The world wide web was invented in the late 1980s, but did you know the reason we get such lighting fast speeds today is because of an Ancient Roman glassmaking technique? Check out this bit of trivia about full fibre optic cables!
Fibre cables are thinner than human hair
The cables we use for full fibre broadband are about the same size as a human hair follicle. This makes them delicate, but by no means weak! They can bend without breaking but it’s still important that we protect them properly when building a full fibre network.
Fibre optic cables are surrounded by protective cladding and coated in plastic to prevent any damage. These levels of protection for the cables is what makes this the most resilient, reliable broadband networks. The risk of damage to the cables, and by extension the network, is minimal.
Fibre dates back to the Roman Empire
Did you know the glass used to make fibre cables comes from sand? When sand it exposed to extremely high temperatures, it melts into glass and becomes very malleable. Roman glassmakers in 2nd century AD had this skill nailed to a T and it’s with this technique they would stretch glass into fibres for design use. Today’s technology to create full fibre cables for broadband is based on the origins of this ancient method.
Fibre cables use light to carry signal
The thousands of glass fibres are what carries light, signals, and data from point A to point B. They’re non-conductive, which means they don’t carry electricity – only light. The cables send pulses of light with binary code, allowing transmission of data to take place.
Fibre cables are the world’s fastest broadband technology
Full fibre broadband using fibre optic technology is currently the fastest, most reliable broadband technology in the world. The fastest speed recorded on a full fibre broadband network is 43 terabits per second – that’s equivalent to 43 million megabits per second!
A full fibre broadband connection is one that connects the internet exchange point to the router entirely using full fibre optic cables. Building these networks is what we do best, and you can count on us to deliver a network that will stand the test of time! Even though we are yet to be able to reach a speed as fast as 43 Tbps, our networks are 30 to 40 times faster than the usual copper wiring!
At RuralFibre4U, we’re building high-quality full fibre networks for FACTCO, a Liverpool-based internet service provider dedicated to getting rural communities prepared for the PSTN switch off. Don’t leave it until the last minute! Get your full fibre future secured now by registering with FACTCO or by calling them on 0333 305 7560.