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Fiber Optics vs. DSL? What an Imba!
I have seen it from somewhere. Old titans replaced with newer,
flashier demigods. Kodak booted from the picture with Canon’s EOS
300D camera release. And now, we have Fiber Optics vs. DSL? That is
saying literally glass versus copper. Isn’t everything obvious yet?
Nevertheless, since comparison should be subjected to a bit of
explanation, we’re going to do just that.
Let’s Talk about Fiber Optics vs. DSL –in Detail.
DSL, acronym for Digital Subscriber Line, is an internet access
technology employing the telephone line. And copper is the main
medium for this access. That makes miles and miles of copper
telephone lines that transmit data back and forth. Yes, there had
been talks about computers using silver as a better conductor
circuit but, hey, saying that a silver telephone line should also be
better isn’t really feasible, isn’t it?
That leaves us with the copper medium. Technically, copper telephone
lines can grow into a considerable medium, considering how
Broadband, HDSL, ADSL and SDSL technologies have surfaced from DSL
recently. And the average 128 kilobit per second to 24,000 kilobits
per second achievable by DSL is already withstanding. However,
comparing it to fiber optics capability is simply outrageous.
Copper can transmit data by electrical pulses and fiber optics can
transmit data as light, enough said. The comparisons are clear:
copper although speedy, light is speedier –way speedier than
electrical impulses can ever be. There is also the considerable
factor of attenuation. Fiber optics can easily handled attenuation
(at longer and vaster distance) than copper, as evident in how ADSL
(or most DSL) technology runs. ASDL speed, mind you, isn’t slow. A
conventional ASDL downstream is log at 512 kilobits per second, a
speed that can rival a conventional fiber optic cable access from
Comcast. But what does Comcast do better is topographical, owning it
to the fiber optics cable pipes being laid underwater across oceans
connecting major lands like Europe, US, China and Oceania. And that
is defining distance. It is possible that copper telephone wires can
do the same, but for every few miles, a repeater should be
installed. And we have the speed of light for comparison. Copper
telephone lines are expectedly left behind.
Choosing Fiber Optics vs. DSL
So now that leaves you whether to choose DSL or fiber optics cable.
The reason today (depends on the present markets conditions
actually) would make DSL better, because there aren’t enough fiber
cables laid on the ground yet. Fiber optics cable seems viable only
if there is an ongoing market in your vicinity, otherwise choose
DSL. But in a matter of a decade, let us be checking which should
dominate. I say Fiber Optics.
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