How are fiber optic cables joined?

​All data is just encoded energy, and light is the fastest moving form of energy in the universe. Fiber optics are tiny strands of glass meant to take advantage of this speed by conducting light between two points.

All data is just encoded energy, and light is the fastest moving form of energy in the universe. Fiber optics are tiny strands of glass meant to take advantage of this speed by conducting light between two points. The strands are smaller in thickness than a human hair, but can conduct massive amounts of data (as much as 1 Gbps).

The problem is, these cables can only be made at a length of a couple miles long. So how is there an intercontinental backbone for fiber optic communications stretching thousands of miles across ocean floors? And how is it be tapped into to expand the network to more cities, and for last mile applications?

The fibers themselves are extremely pure to prevent attenuation, allowing laser beams to move at nearly the speed of light. Any impurity or resistance in the system will slow down data speeds. So the real challenge is joining two fibers end-to-end in a way that minimizes any resistance. Of course, with fibers this small, and this pure, surgical precision is necessary.

Mechanical splicing vs fusion splicing

With mechanical splicing, fibers are plugged into a terminal. This is a similar concept to an electrical connector. The actual connectors, of course, are more advanced, as the fibers need to be perfectly aligned for the light signal to pass through. An index matching fluid is used to ensure the stability of the connection. This is a gel or fluid trapped inside the connector that is of a similar refractory index to the glass fibers. The only equipment required to complete the mechanical splice is the connector itself.

For an overview of mechanical connectors types, you can see this article here

The mechanical splice is not pure and does create some small level of resistance. Splicing two fibers together to form one continuous fiber is the superior method. This is done through a process referred to as fusion splicing. The ends of the two fibers are essentially welded together.

The ends of the fibers are placed into a machine for precise alignment, and can then be fused together with an electric arc. The splice is protected with a heat shrink sleeve (which must be slid over one end of the two fibers prior to fusing). The need for specialized equipment makes fusion splicing more expensive upfront, but the savings per splice is significant. The equipment quickly pay itself off, if used frequently. Additionally, with fusion, there’s less concern of a failed or under-performing splice.
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Slowly, the entire infrastructure of the internet is being upgraded to broad brand. The intercontinental backbone already exists. That means that your data is only slowing down when it hops off the fiberoptic super speedway to come to your city. In some cases, its just the last mile to your home or business that has yet to be upgraded.

For telecomms upgrades and installations, you can contact Waeco Construction here.
. Partnering with a turnkey contractor means you can get one party to handle design, permitting and construction of your telecomms project. This reduces time, error, and headache for you as the customer.