The world lives on the internet, as everyone knows. What everyone doesn’t know is that data cables make the internet possible. Known as Cat cables and ethernet cables, they make connectivity possible. Cables carry broadband signals, whether it’s to your router at home or through a huge network with servers, computers, modems, routers, switches, etc. Bulk fiber optic cables help to ensure that the data continues to flow.
Why are fiber optic cables necessary?
The world depends on the internet. It’s become the basis for all our activities, including work, commerce, shopping, banking, entertainment, education and more. As of March 2017, there were 3.74 billion internet users worldwide, and the numbers keep growing. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, the great majority, or 77% of Americans use the internet everyday.
The same study found that around 43% of Americans go online several times a day. More than one in four or 26% said that they’re online almost all the time. This level of online activity is made possible by rapidly changing technology, and cables are part of that.
What do cables do?
Very simply, cables carry the data that keeps the internet humming. Fiber optics were first installed in 1988 to connect the U.S. to the U.K. and France and hundreds more have been installed since then. Cables are used for almost everything to do with the internet, from networking cables to cell phone cables.
They carry data for home computers, gaming, and streaming videos. Cables are also used in industry and manufacturing, including aerospace and defense. They are essential for installation and maintenance tasks. Purchasing bulk fiber optic cables helps to ensure that the data never stops.
Why does bandwidth matter?
Bandwidth defines the amount of data that a cable can carry. Different types of cables are used for different purposes. For example, Category 5 cables, also known as Cat 5 cables, which have been around for a while, are fairly basic but still better than WiFi. Cat5e Ethernet cables, where the “e” stands for enhanced, can handle speeds of 1000 Mbps “gigabit”. They also reduce interference between different wires within the cables, known as crosstalk.
Cat6 Ethernet cables can handle still greater speeds and higher frequencies, though they cost more. Installers use different types of cables for different purposes. For example, a home computer that’s only used for accessing the internet and doing homework needs less bandwidth than the cables that would be used for a home theater.
Cables carry the data that is the lifeblood of the Internet. There are many different types, and installers must choose the right type for each job. Stocking up on bulk fiber optic cables helps to ensure that installations, repairs and updates remain on track to maintain connectivity.
