What is a key advantage of using fiber optic cables over traditional copper cables?

The key advantage of using fiber optic cables over traditional copper cables is the capacity for higher bandwidth and the ability to transmit data over much longer distances without significant signal degradation. Fiber optic cables use light to transmit data, which allows them to carry vast amounts of information at very high speeds. This contrasts with copper cables, which are limited in bandwidth and can suffer from signal loss and attenuation over longer distances due to electrical resistance.

Additionally, fiber optics are designed to operate over much greater distances without the need for repeaters or amplifiers that are often required with copper cabling. The physical characteristics of fiber optic cables also contribute to their efficiency—light can travel much farther through glass or plastic fibers than electrical signals can through metals. This capability makes fiber optics ideal for high-speed internet connections, data communication networks, and applications requiring high-performance data transfer.

While other options may have their own advantages, such as resistance to electromagnetic interference or flexibility, the defining feature that sets fiber optics apart in terms of performance and capability in networking is primarily the higher bandwidth and the extended transmission distances they provide.