What is fiber optic cabling primarily used for?

Fiber optic cabling is primarily used for high-speed data transmission over long distances due to its ability to transmit data using light signals. This method allows for significantly faster data rates compared to traditional copper cabling, making it ideal for internet backbones, interbuilding links, and telecommunications.

Fiber optic cables consist of thin strands of glass or plastic fiber that carry light pulses, which can travel long distances without significant loss of signal quality or strength. This characteristic is crucial for applications requiring vast bandwidth and minimal latency, such as streaming, cloud computing, and large-scale data centers.

While other options, such as low-power device connectivity or networking between local devices, may employ different types of cabling, they do not leverage the primary strengths of fiber optics. Additionally, wireless communication systems rely on radio waves and do not utilize cabling in the same manner as fiber optics, further underscoring the unique role of fiber optics in high-speed, long-distance data communications.