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The future is fiber. We are not just saying it for the sake of it. The statistics say it all! The value of the fiber optics market will grow up to $7 billion by 2024. In fact, more than 3.5 billion km of optical fiber is already installed worldwide. 

 Still, many wonder how it is different from traditional cable and how it can improve day-to-day operations. To begin with, let's get one fact clear, fiber optic cable is the fastest form of data transfer. It will eventually become industry standard. Those who are still unaware of the concept are about a digital journey through the internet transmitted in the form of light pulse flashing through long, optical fibers.

 In fact, around 500 million km of optical fibers are made every year. You can't expect any modern convenience without them. In fact, they are key for the upcoming 5G technology and FTTx environment. But how is it helping the telecom industry to grow and vice versa? How will the telecom industry be a trigger to revamping optical fibers? 

 Let's talk about it in detail below!

 Telecom Industry and Fiber Optics: What's Changing?

 Everyone wants faster internet speed. And with the fierce competition between telecom and cable companies, it only enables access to the internet with unlimited bandwidth. All of this was possible because of the installation of optical fiber. And with the demand for bandwidth increasing at a growth rate of 70%, its adoption will grow even more. In fact, by 2025, with the increased adoption of FTTx, 5G, and IoT, there will be a need to increase fiber connectivity. 

 Many believe that by 2024, governing bodies will spend around $14 billion as optical fiber investment in a country like India. Global telecoms like AT&T and Verizon will also strategically invest in this niche. Clearly, the fiber optics market needs to move from the traditional methods to meet the needs of the growing TMT industry. 

 The Next Steps

 The fiber optics market needs to move beyond silica because they have a number of shortcomings attached to it. With the intensity of light pushed through such fibers is increasing, the silica glass won't be able to take so much light. It's because data-rich services are growing in demand. 

 At moderate light levels, many phenomena happening usually go unnoticed. However, when the light intensity increases, these non-linear effects start sapping the power of transmitted light. Not only that, it shifts its wavelengths, distorts the signals, causing many headaches. It could cause the fiber performance to plateau in no time. 

 This is why now researchers are working towards taking care of these problematic solutions. However, such an approach results in increasing the cost.

 Let's talk about real-life examples of what's happening across the world.

 Fiber optics isn't the same anymore. A lot of innovation and newness is only the beginning. There are so many technological breakthroughs and vast networks along with the ever-evolving fiber optics. Here are some of the things happening across the world. 

 Pacific Light Cable Network: It is one of the most promising and unique fiber optics projects happening in the world. Many believe that it will transform the fiber cable initiatives. It will link LA and Hong Kong. It will completely revolutionize the WiFi network with its remarkable capacity of 144TB.

• Simba: Fiber optics transformed the world in many ways. This new project was initiated by Facebook. It wants to connect the entire continent using fiber optics under the sea. Thus, reducing bandwidth costs. It will be an essential link between European and Asian networking centers.

• Twisted Light Spirals: The phrase twisted light spirals might seem a bit artistic, but it is more than what you see. This concept will use a third dimension which will carry information. They are thinking of using angular momentum to bring record network speeds to already growing and improving networks across the world.

 Meanwhile, scientists are working to make this technology a better component for the TMT industry. For example, they are researching different fibers, including technicalities like chemical sensing, MIR, and spectroscopy. Silica is definitely good, but as mentioned before, its applications are quite limited.

 These fibers, made from fluoride glass which can transmit light to around 5.5 µm, are being studied now. But it's generally a term. For instance, it could be a mix of different chemicals like zirconium fluoride or fluoride of barium, aluminum, and sodium. Some manufacturers are also working to make fibers made from chalcogenides. 

 Polymer-based optical fibers are also becoming popular amongst manufacturers. They are usually used for low-speed home networks. 

 Final Takeaways: Optical Fiber Network is the Future of TMT industry

Optical communication is gradually becoming a need since it’s transforming information exchange. The upstreaming and downstreaming applications are becoming a driving force for this application. This is why it is quite recognized in the entertainment, commercials, and industrial communication sectors. 

And with growing advancement in technologies, it is growing even more than anticipated. For instance, Wi-Fi 6 now offers speeds at least 40% more than its predecessor. Another passive optical network allows around 10 GB of data transmission within a shared network. Terabit ethernet supports transmission rates up to 200 and 400 gigs per second. 

Besides that the increased speed and capacity from 5G will rely on higher frequencies and network densification. And one can achieve that using deep fiber networks. Since there will be a four-fold increase in the mobile data traffic, this will even become one of the important things to increase the capacity for residential and business customers. Also, wireless broadband access will be one of the drivers to inclusion of optical fibers in the coming years.

In short, larger bandwidths, reduced latency, and packet loss are considerably reduced using these new-age technologies. And that’s how TMT businesses can improve their customer service and manage the changing consumer demands. 

At the same time, fiber networks need to be prepared for the growing demand of higher data and faster network connectivity. Or else it will only create chaos.