- 2076 Asoj · 4 marks
Short note: Optical fiber versus STP
Short answer
Optical fibre transmits light, providing immunity to EMI, extremely high bandwidth (Tbps), low attenuation (0.2-0.5 dB/km), and long spans tens of kilometres; it is costly and fragile. STP uses shielded copper pairs, limited to about 10 Gbps over 100 m, higher attenuation, but lower cost and easier to install.
Write a short note on optical fiber versus STP.
Optical fibre carries data as light pulses through a glass or plastic core. STP (shielded twisted pair) carries electrical signals over twisted copper pairs wrapped in a metal shield.
| Point | Optical fibre | STP |
|---|---|---|
| Signal | Light | Electrical |
| Bandwidth / data rate | Very high (Gbps to Tbps) | Limited (up to about 10 Gbps, short range) |
| Attenuation | Very low (0.2-0.5 dB/km) | High; repeaters every 100 m (LAN) to 2 km |
| Maximum distance | Up to tens of km | About 100 m for LAN use |
| EMI / crosstalk | Immune | Reduced by the shield, but not immune |
| Security | Hard to tap | Can be tapped |
| Cost | Higher (cable, connectors, laser/LED) | Lower |
| Installation | Skilled work, fragile | Easier, but heavy and stiff |
| Weight and size | Lighter and thinner | Heavier, thicker |
Fibre is chosen for backbones and long distance, while STP suits short, noisy-environment links at a lower cost.
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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