Understanding

Fiber Optic Communications

Communications over hair-thin strands of glass
Presented by

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

 This presentation provided by
The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.
The Professional Society Of Fiber Optics
www.foa.org

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

 What Is Fiber Optics ?

• Transmitting
communications
signals over hair thin
strands of glass or
plastic
• Not a "new" technology
• Concept a century old
• Used commercially
since 1980

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

 Why Fiber Optics?

Fiber is the least

expensive, most
reliable method
for high speed
and long distance
communications
AT&T promotional
photo from 1970s

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

 Fiber Is Everywhere!
It’s how we communicate…

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

Under The Oceans

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

On The Land

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

 Fiber Optic Applications

• Fiber is the least expensive, most reliable

method for high speed and/or long distance
communications
• While we already transmit signals at 100
Gigabits per second speeds, we have only
started to utilize the potential bandwidth of
fiber

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

 Fiber Optic Applications
• Outside Plant vs Premises Installations

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

Fiber Technology

A glass optical fiber is about twice

the size of a human hair.

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

Fiber Technology

Fiber uses reflection (L) to

contain light inside the core
of the fiber (below).

Core
Cladding

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

How Fiber Works

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

 Ryan Lockte Illustrates
“Total Internal Reflection”

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

Fiber Is Extremely Transparent

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

Fiber Optic Data Links

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

 Light Used In Fiber Optics

• Fiber optic systems transmit using

infrared light, invisible to the human
eye, because it goes further in the
optical fiber at those wavelengths.

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

 Wavelength-Division Multiplexing
Allows Transmitting Multiple Signals

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

 Fiber Optic Cable

• Protects the fibers

wherever they are
installed
• May have 1 to >1000
fibers

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

 Fiber Optic Connectors

• Terminates the fibers

• Connects to other fibers or transmission
equipment

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

 Jobs In Fiber Optics

• Designing components
• Manufacturing fiber, lasers, etc.
• Designing systems
• Installing networks
• Training and teaching

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

Fiber Optic Manufacturing

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

Designing Fiber Optic Systems

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

Fiber Optic Installation - Outside Plant

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

Fiber Optic Installation -Premises

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

Teaching Fiber Optics

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

 Learn More About Fiber Optics

• The FOA Website, www.TheFOA.org

– Online Guide (~1000 pages with a Google
Custom Search)
– Monthly Newsletter
– 100+ YouTube videos
– Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter, etc.

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

 Learn More About Fiber Optics

FOA has textbooks on basic fiber optics (also in Spanish

and French,) outside plant fiber optics and premises cabling.

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

 For more information, also see
Lennie Lightwave’s Guide To Fiber Optics
www.LennieLightwave.com

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.

 This presentation provided by
The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.
The Professional Society Of Fiber Optics
www.foa.org

©2015, The Fiber Optic Association, Inc.