How did we get to where we are when it comes to fiber optic cables? We take a quick look at the history as well as the future of the tech.
Anyone who pays attention to networking and communications technologies knows just how meteoric the rise of fiber optic cables was. They’ve been widely adopted as an efficient, durable, and cost-effective alternative to traditional copper cables and are used for a wide variety of applications including audio/visual setups, networking, and more. It’s clear that many industries and individuals rely on fiber optic cables for daily use, but what isn’t obvious is how we got here—and just how far back that history stretches.
The Origin of Fiber
In some sense, the history of fiber dates back all the way to the mid-1800s. Of course, fiber optic cables as we know them didn’t exist yet, but this is when some of the pioneers of science like Alexander Graham Bell and William Wheeler began thinking of how using the speed of light could be used to transmit information. The next century saw more researchers pushing forward the idea until eventually, in the mid-20th century, multiple scientists were seeking out patents for their fiber optic technologies. By the 70s and 80s, non-experimental fiber optic cables were developed and began to be deployed by telephone companies to rebuild their communications infrastructures.
The U.S. Government As An Early Adopter
Part of why the technology took off was thanks to the adoption of the technology by the United States government. In 1975, fiber optic cables were used to link computers together in the NORAD headquarters, located in Colorado. It wasn’t until 1996 that the first fully optic fiber cable was buried deep within the Pacific Ocean, which allowed for the Internet as we know it today to be a possibility.
The Current State of Fiber
Nowadays, fiber has been adopted on a much more localized scale, thanks to lower costs and an easier barrier of entry. This makes it so that just about anyone with a basic understanding of networking can take advantage of the technology. Developments in fiber could lead to even quicker speeds and it’s likely that the market will continue to grow as we develop more practical applications where high-speed communication is a necessity.
Get in Touch with FiberPlus
FiberPlus has been providing data communication solutions for over 25 years in the Mid Atlantic Region for a number of different markets. What began as a cable installation company for Local Area Networks has grown into a leading provider of innovative technology solutions improving the way our customers communicate and keeping them secure. Our solutions now include:
- Structured Cabling (Fiberoptic, Copper and Coax for inside and outside plant networks)
- Electronic Security Systems (Access Control & CCTV Solutions)
- Wireless Access Point installations
- Public Safety DAS – Emergency Call Stations
- Audio/Video Services (Intercoms and Display Monitors)
- Support Services
- Specialty Systems
- Design/Build Services
FiberPlus promises the communities in which we serve that we will continue to expand and evolve as new technology is introduced within the telecommunications industry.
Have any questions? Interested in one of our services? Call FiberPlus today 800-394-3301, email us at info@fiberplusinc.com, or visit our contact page. Our offices are located in the Washington, DC metro area, Richmond, VA, and Columbus, OH. In Pennsylvania, please call Pennsylvania Networks, Inc. at 814-259-3999.
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