From energy efficiency to reduced electronic waste, explore some of the many environmental benefits of fiber optic cables in this blog.

4 Environmental Benefits of Fiber Optic Cables

The demand for premium telecommunications and high-speed internet continues to rise in today's interconnected world. However, these advancements and innovations also increase the need for efficient and sustainable practices. Fiber optics offer the best of both worlds with their incredible data transmission abilities and environmentally-friendly features. Although fiber isn’t green technology, it has a significantly less carbon impact.

As a leading fiber optic cable provider, we have prepared a guide to introduce you to some of the many environmental benefits of fiber optics cables over traditional ones.

Energy Efficiency

According to the European Commission, fiber optic is the most energy-efficient technology among all cable options. Fiber connections emit 1.7 tons of CO2 per year at 50 Mbps, whereas copper cables emit 2.7 tons of this greenhouse gas. Switching to fiber optics can reduce carbon emissions by 1 ton a year.

At faster speeds, fiber optic connections emit even less CO2. This is because they can transmit data at longer distances without intermediate devices (amplifiers) requiring electrical power and cooling, reducing energy consumption. Copper cables need amplifiers to transmit data, and amplifiers consume significant energy to run and cool down, hence more emissions.

That’s not all; fiber optic connectivity also reduces your electrical usage. You can download large data significantly faster using a fiber broadband connection with lower power needs.

Reduced Electronic Waste

Another major environmental benefit of fiber optic cables is reduced wastage. Copper cables are prone to corrosion and degradation, requiring frequent replacements. Fiber optic cables, on the other hand, are durable and reliable, contributing to a substantial reduction in electronic waste.

These cables remain functional for decades without degradation in performance. This leads to fewer discarded cables, reduced waste generation, and minimized impact of cable replacements.

Conservation of Resources

Traditional cables’ primary source of raw materials is copper mining which involves environmentally damaging practices such as water pollution, soil erosion, and deforestation. This not only leads to resource scarcity but affects groundwater and biodiversity. Fiber optics are made from glass and silica (one of the most abundant materials on Earth) that is easily found in sand. Their production reduces the need for mining operations to preserve natural habitats. This results in minimized ecological disturbances.

Reduced Land Disruption

Fiber optics require less physical infrastructure as compared to traditional cabling systems. Their lightweight nature and small diameter allow fiber optic cables for flexible deployment, reducing the need for extensive land disruptions during installation. This can benefit environmentally sensitive areas where construction impact can damage delicate ecosystems.

If you’re looking for reliable cable management systems, Fibermart has got you covered! You can buy fiber patch cables, fiber trunk cables, optical amplifiers, SFP+, QSFP+, and many other products at affordable rates. We have helped leading tech companies like Amazon, Apple, IBM, etc., and we would love to assist you too! Explore our products here or contact us for details.