The difference between communication cables and optical cables

**Cable:** When a phone converts sound into an electrical signal, it sends this signal through the line to a switch. The switch then forwards the electrical signal directly to the other phone, allowing the call to be answered. The cable used for this process is known as a communication cable. These cables are typically made of copper wire, with core diameters such as 0.32mm, 0.4mm, and 0.5mm. The larger the diameter, the better the signal transmission capability. The number of internal wires also varies—common configurations include 5 pairs, 10 pairs, 20 pairs, 50 pairs, 100 pairs, or even 200 pairs. Here, "pairs" refer to the maximum number of users that can be supported by the cable. Cables are generally lightweight, but they have limited communication capacity and are best suited for short-distance connections. **Optical Cable:** In contrast, when a phone converts sound into an electrical signal, it is sent via the line to a switch, which then transmits the signal to a photoelectric converter. This device changes the electrical signal into an optical one, which is then sent through an optical cable to another photoelectric converter. There, it is converted back into an electrical signal and passed to the receiving phone. The line connecting these two converters is an optical cable. Optical cables typically have a certain number of cores, such as 4, 6, 8, or 12 cores. They offer advantages like small size, light weight, low cost, and high data capacity. Due to their performance, they are mainly used for long-distance point-to-point communication, such as between switching centers. The main difference between the two is that a traditional cable contains copper wires, while an optical cable uses glass fibers inside. **Communication Cable:** A communication cable consists of multiple optical fibers arranged in a specific way to form a cable core, which is then covered with an outer jacket. Some cables may even have an additional protective layer. These cables are designed for transmitting optical signals over long distances. In 1976, the American Bell Institute established the first fiber optic communication system in Atlanta, using a 144-fiber optical cable from Western Electric. By 1980, multimode fiber optic cables began being used in intercity trunk lines, and by 1983, single-mode fiber cables were introduced for long-distance communications. In 1988, the first transatlantic submarine cable was successfully installed between the U.S. and the U.K., followed by the first transcontinental cable. China developed its own communication cable in 1978, using multi-mode fiber with a structured cable core. Trials were conducted in cities like Shanghai, Beijing, and Wuhan, and later it was used for local telephone exchanges. From 1984 onward, single-mode fiber was introduced for long-distance use. Compared to copper cables, optical cables have higher transmission capacity, longer transmission distance, smaller size, lighter weight, and no electromagnetic interference. Since 1976, they have been widely used in trunk lines, city relays, offshore, and transoceanic communications, as well as in the backbones of local area networks and private networks. They have also expanded into urban user loop distribution networks, supporting fiber-to-the-home and broadband-based integrated services digital networks. **Types of Communication Cables:** A communication cable is usually made up of several twisted wire pairs, with at least two wires in each group. Each pair is insulated from the others and often twisted around a central core. The entire structure is wrapped in a highly insulating jacket. Submarine cables, in particular, are designed to withstand harsh underwater conditions. **Key Differences:** First, there is a material difference: cables are made of metal (usually copper or aluminum), while optical cables are made of glass fibers. Second, they differ in the type of signal they transmit: cables carry electrical signals, while optical cables carry optical signals. Third, their applications vary: cables are commonly used for power transmission and basic data transfer (like telephone lines), whereas optical cables are ideal for high-speed data transmission.

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