A fiber-optic cable, also known as an optical-fiber cable, is an assembly similar to an electrical cable but containing one or more optical fibers that are used to carry light. The optical fiber elements are typically individually coated with plastic layers and contained in a protective tube. A fiber optic cable is a thin strand of glass or plastic that transmits data as pulses of light instead of electrical signals. Where traditional copper cables max out at about 10 gigabits per second, fiber optic cables can handle 100 gigabits per second with commercially available hardware, and. Unlike copper wires, which are limited by lower data transmission speeds, shorter transmission distances, and higher susceptibility to electromagnetic interference, fiber optic cables offer unparalleled performance and can cover much greater distances without bumping up against signal degradation. What is an Optical Fiber? Optical fiber is a technology used to transmit data by sending short light pulses along a long fiber, which is typically made of glass or plastic. This method allows high-speed data transmission over long distances with minimal loss, making it essential for modern data networks, telecommunications, and the internet. It uses a principle known as total internal reflection.