Optic Fiber, Optical Fiber, Fibre Optics, Fiber-Optics. Whatever you call it, truly the future is here today. Verizon FiOs (Fiber Optics) as well as others are available for homes and businesses today in some areas.
An optical fiber (or fibre) is a glass or plastic fiber that carries light along its length. Optical fibers are widely used in fiber-optic communications, which permits transmission over longer distances and at higher bandwidths (data rates). Data literally goes at the speed of light; the fastest mode of transfer in existence. The light data is not affected by electromagnetic interference.
Light is kept in the core of the optical fiber by total internal reflection. Optical fiber is flexible and can support up to at transfer rates as high as 111 gigabits per second,[12] although 10 or 40 Gb/s is typical. The fibers used in long-distance telecommunications applications are always glass, because of the lower optical attenuation. Both multi-mode and single-mode fibers are used in communications, with multi-mode fiber used mostly for short distances, up to 550 m (600 yards), and single-mode fiber used for longer distance links.
Companies that offer Fiber-Optic Internet:
Qwest Fiber-Optic Internet
Up to 20 Mbps for $35 to $40 per month.
Verizon FiOS Internet
Up to 50 Mbps starting at $45 per month.
Note: 1 MBps (megabyte per second) = 8 mbps (megabits per second)
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Click here to view information and pictures on a Fiber Optic setup in Japan.
