Kuidukaapeleita

Kuidukaapeleita is the Finnish term used to refer to fiber optic cables, a technology for transmitting information as light through thin glass or plastic fibers. They form the core of modern high-capacity communications networks worldwide.

A kuitukaapeli typically consists of a glass or plastic core that carries light, a cladding layer that keeps the light within the core by guiding it via total internal reflection, and protective jackets that shield the fiber from moisture, bending, and mechanical stress. Light is launched by lasers or light-emitting diodes and detected by photodiodes at the receiving end.

There are two main fiber types: single‑mode, with a small core for long‑distance transmission with low attenuation, and multi‑mode, with a larger core suited for shorter distances and high data rates, such as within data centers or campus networks. Fiber cables are used in telecommunications, internet backbones, submarine networks, and increasingly in residential broadband through existing fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) deployments.

Advantages include very high bandwidth capacity, low signal loss over long distances, immunity to electrical interference, and small size. Limitations involve fragility, higher installation and termination costs, and sensitivity to bending and microbending, which require careful handling and proper connectors.

Standards guide fiber design and testing, with ITU-T and regional specifications (for example ITU-T G.652, G.657) addressing attenuation, chromatic dispersion, and bend performance. Global rollout continues to expand fiber networks, with ongoing research into higher‑order modulation and new materials to further increase capacity.