Disadvantages of optical fibers compared to wires

•SFP twinax cable is higher cost •Need for more expensive optical transmitters and receivers •Cisco 10G copper cable is more difficult and expensive to splice than wires •At higher optical powers, is susceptible to "fiber fuse" wherein a bit too much light meeting with an imperfection can destroy several metres per second. A "Fiber fuse" protection device at the transmitter can break the circuit to prevent damage, if the extreme conditions for this are deemed possible. •Cannot carry electrical power to operate terminal devices. However, current telecommunication trends greatly reduce this concern: availability of cell phones and wireless PDAs; the routine inclusion of back-up batteries in communication devices; lack of real interest in hybrid metal-fiber cables; and increased use of fiber-based intermediate systems).

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