Advantages of fibre optics:

Fibre-optic communications systems have a large bandwidth, e.g. 1 GHz.  The bandwidth is the maximum rate at which information can be transmitted.  It has the benefit of:

• Immunity to electromagnetic interference in electrically noisy situations.

• High security against 'tapping'.

• Much greater flexibility than the majority of waveguides.

• Low weight when compared with copper - 60 per cent less.

• Ability to resist vibration.

• Glass fibres have no fire risk.

• Inability to form unwanted earth loops.

• Inability to short-circuit adjacent filaments when fractured.

• High data capacity (>10Gbits/s with a single fibre).