Fiber Optic vs Copper

pcnetworx1 writes "Recently companies, such as Verizon with their FIOS service, have begun to migrate from legacy copper to fiber optics. Corning (admittedly one of the largest fiber optic cable makers) is running an article which explains why it is actually cheaper to go for the fiber optics."

Comments

why it is cheaper.

[Saven Marek]

laying fiber is 10x more expensive than copper.

But fiber carries hundreds to thousands more channels of data than copper.

that's why it's cheaper.

Re:why it is cheaper.

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, in the long run it is really worth it to build fiber infrastructure. Companies like Surewest are investing for the future, and will play a big role in competing with the telcos and cable companies. I am lucky enough to live in an area where Surewest offers service, and they have 10Mbps and 20Mbps bi-directional packages available. I know it is nothing compared to the service you can get in other countries, but to have that big of a pipe to the Internet in Northern California is damned good. Surewest equipment is full 100Mbps, and can scale to 1Gbps without much upgrading (relatively).

Re:why it is cheaper.

[bogaboga]

You forgot to mention that in the case of copper, many folks can do some basic maintenance whereas with fiber, one has to engage an "expert". I have joined 2 copper ethernet cables to get a longer one with a set of pliers before. If it were fiber, I'd be in big trouble since at that time, I was really broke.

Re:why it is cheaper.

[tyler_larson]

The article caims that fiber networks are cheaper based on the the following assumptions:

• All networks run at 1Gbps or higher. No one needs a slow network.
• All network installations must be certified, and the certification cost for a fiber network is less than for a copper network.
• The allowed size of copper networks decreases dramatically with ultra high-speed networks. Fiber links are allowed to be really long. That difference means huge cost savings to the fiber user.
• With a huge network, the amount of space taken up by switchs and other equipment is smaller for fiber networks. Also, the space taken up by that extra copper switch is extrememly expensive.
• Fiber has an operating temperature range that's wider than copper's. You have to spend extra money on climate control if you use copper.
• Fiber networks are more robust and secure: fiber doesn't conduct lightning strikes. That's worth a lot of money.
• Every so often, a new copper standard comes out, and we all have to upgrade. We've had Cat3, then Cat5, then Cat5e, then Cat6, etc. Boy, that's a lot of copper wires to install! Fiber doesn't go through as many iterations. Fiber users will save billions in future upgrade costs.

So, despite the fact that fiber equipment is so much more expensive, you can see how the savings really start adding up when you figure out the fiber TCO.

take the words right out of my mouth...

[interactive_civilian]

the ever multiple-personalitied Anonymous Coward said:

In some non-US parts of the world, we've had bragging rights about fiber for MANY years now...When will you catch up?

I was just about to state something to that extent.

I am currenly on 100Mbps up/down fiber for just about US$50 per month (split among two other roommates equals less than $20/person) just outside of Tokyo. Lots of people say "The US is so broad that we can't do this!", but I fail to see why this kind of connection isn't available in US cities. I am outside of the most dense parts of Tokyo (in fact, I am in a suburb of Kawasaki), but that didn't stop the ISPs (So-Net in my case) from running fibre to apartments.

Come on, USA! At least in the cities, there is no reason to be so far behind with regards to residential access!

From someone with Verizon's FIOS Service,

[neildiamond]

here are the problems! 1. Monopoly CONTROL! Verizon isn't just trying to give you high speed Internet, they're trying completely take over your phone. Once your phone is on fibre, you can no longer switch local service providers (unless they allow that for some reason). The reason is that the fibre line is completely theirs and the old copper was financed by govt regulated monopoly. This is a return to the old Bell only days! 2. They do everything possible to cut off copper service to your house even if you tell them not to so as to make it nearly impossible to get a phone line from someone else! (Took me over a month!) 3. Why else would you want a copper phone? POWER OUTAGES! Copper phones usually have their own power and continue to work when the main power goes out. Fibre phones installations come with a battery pack that you have to maintain. They saw the phone can get 4 hours of talk time. Not so good if you run a company or home business on that line. Plus, the only thing that worked during 9/11 was the copper phone line (yes sometimes the lines were busy, but it still mostly worked as cell phones didn't). Internet was pretty slow at that point too. If having a working phone isn't important to you, you could always go with Vonage or whatever, but that's still relying on a single communications channel not to fail in a major emergency. 4. Verizon's customer service sucks. THey know they have you by the balls and once you have fibre, there is no going back! That said, the internet service is pretty sweet. I've been running it since September and not a single burb since then. The 1.5 Mbs upstream speed is really nice too. So my advice is switch your local phone service to someone else and then get Verizon to do your Internet. That way they have to leave your copper phone lines in place. However, they just bought out MCI and the other local phone guys are pretty sucky so beware! Verizon is the next M$ watch out!