Composite cable, also known as hybrid cable, is a type of cable that consists of both fiber optic and copper conductors. This type of cable is designed to provide the benefits of both mediums, allowing for greater flexibility in terms of data transmission and bandwidth.
The fiber portion of the composite cable contains light-carrying strands of glass or plastic, which allow for faster transmission of data than copper wires. This is because the data is transmitted in the form of pulses of light, which do not experience the same levels of signal distortion and latency as electrical signals. The fiber optic portion of the cable also offers greater protection from interference, as the light pulses cannot be affected by electromagnetic interference.
The copper portion of the cable consists of twisted pairs of copper wires, and is used for lower bandwidth applications, such as telephone lines, video signals, and power transmission. The copper wires are also used to provide electrical power to certain components of the network, such as repeaters and amplifiers.
The advantages of using composite cable are that it provides greater flexibility, as the two different mediums can be used in tandem to provide a combined solution that offers the best of both worlds. It also eliminates the need for separate installations of both fiber and copper cables, which can be costly and time-consuming.
A composite cable is often used in high-traffic areas, such as airports and office buildings, where both fiber and copper cables are needed for various applications. The cable is also commonly used for connecting computer networks and for connecting various devices to one another.
