The rapid advancement in digital technology and the ever-increasing demand for high-speed internet connectivity have brought optical fibres to the forefront of data transmission solutions. This article delves into the intricacies of optical fibres, their working principles, advantages, and the growing significance of fibre optic cables in India.
Understanding Optical Fibre
An optical fibre is a slim, cylindrical strand, as thin as a human hair and primarily made of glass. They carry the unique ability to transport diverse kinds of data, including text, audio, video, and phone calls, over long distances at stellar speeds. Strong, lightweight, and extremely flexible, optical fibres are appropriate for underwater submersion, underground burial, or wrapping around a coil. Nearly six decades ago, physicist Charles Kao introduced the idea of employing glass fibres for superior telecommunication services, overtaking the then-dominant copper wires. His revolutionary involvement in fibre optic communication bagged him a part of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics.
The Working Principle: Total Internal Reflection
The guiding light within optical fibres is based on the phenomenon of Total Internal Reflection (TIR). While travelling from a denser medium (like glass) to a rare one (such as air), light can completely reflect back within the denser medium when it meets a specific angle. This occurrence is referred to as TIR.
Signal Encoding and Transport
Data is transformed into rapidly pulsating light signals symbolising binary digits (zeros and ones) for encoding. These signals are introduced from one end of the optical fibre, which then traverses by reflecting within the glass walls due to TIR. The optical fibre conveys these encoded indicators across vast distances without substantial loss of signal quality. A receiver then decodes the information from the transmitted light signals at the destination.
Advantages of Fibre Optics Over Copper
Optic fibres offer an array of benefits over copper wires. They can transmit data at high speeds up to 10 Gbps or more and provide greater bandwidth, enabling them to bear more information more efficiently than copper wire. As fibre-optic cables transmit data in light form, minimal signal loss happens during transmission, resulting in higher speeds across larger distances. Furthermore, they are less prone to noise and electromagnetic interference and nearly immune to multiple environmental factors that copper cables cannot withstand.
Fibre Optics Scenario in India
In India, fibre optics technology is extensively used in telecommunications, medical science, laser technology, and sensing applications. To facilitate communication and advocate quantum science, the Indian Government announced a national mission in the Union Budget of 2020. The budget allocated for the ‘National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications’ amounts to Rs 8,000 crore spread over five years. The scope of fibre optic networks is escalating rapidly, reaching our homes and marking the beginning of a new era in communication.
