Fiber-optic interconnects: How to improve cloud computing networks

Since the beginning of the 21st century, cloud computing has gained incredible attention and has become a topic of conversation. Considering that cloud computing has become the core of operations in any industry, such as education, food, beverage, IT, or any other industry. Any network service that aims to serve individual customers or large enterprises must adopt cutting-edge communication technology to effectively handle cloud computing needs.

To meet the daily demand for storage of personal data as well as data generated and managed by large enterprises, cloud computing technology needs to run on an infrastructure that provides seamless connectivity and massive data processing capabilities.

Fiber optic interconnects provide high-bandwidth and low-latency connections, making them an ideal infrastructure for cloud computing operations.

What is fiber optic interconnection

Modern data centers and telecommunications networks require infrastructure that can handle multiple high-performance components simultaneously. Fiber optic interconnects are used to connect different parts of a fiber optic system and are typically composed of one or more optical fibers. These interconnects provide high-bandwidth, low-latency connections, making them a preferred choice over traditional electrical interconnects for copper-based communication networks.

Fiber Optic Interconnects vs. Copper Interconnects

While enterprises have relied heavily on traditional copper connections in the past, fiber optic interconnects have become the preferred choice for business applications that handle large data loads.

Here are some of the differentiating factors that make fiber optic interconnects superior:

• Transmission speeds – Copper cables transfer data through the movement of electrons, and the maximum data speed for copper cables is typically around 10 gigabits per second (Gbps), although some advanced copper-based technologies can support higher speeds.
• In contrast, optical fiber uses light to transmit data, which allows for significantly higher transmission speeds. The theoretical maximum data speed for optical fiber is about 100 terabits per second (Tbps), but in real-world applications, speeds are generally lower. However, speeds of up to 60 Tbps have been demonstrated in laboratory environments, allowing optical fiber to transmit data at much higher speeds than copper cables.
• Distance – If you want to send data over long distances, fiber optics is a better choice. Some single-mode optical fibers can transmit data up to 25 miles, while copper cables lose about 90% of data within 100 meters.
• Network reliability - Copper cables are good conductors of electricity and are susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMI), which can cause network outages. Fiber optics are not affected by moisture and temperature changes. In addition, fiber optics do not present the same fire hazard as copper cables.
• Security – Since fiber optics do not run on electrical signals, data carried in fiber optic cables cannot be eavesdropped on. Networks transmitted over copper cables can be eavesdropped on, which can hamper connectivity.
• Associated costs – While copper cables may initially appear to be more economical, their deployment and maintenance incur hidden costs over time. Copper cables require regular maintenance and replacement, especially in harsh environments where they are more susceptible to damage and wear.

Additionally, copper cables are not as secure as fiber optic cables, making them more susceptible to security breaches and cyberattacks. As a result, organizations may need to invest in additional security measures to protect their networks, increasing the overall cost of deploying and maintaining copper networks.

In contrast, fiber optic cables are more durable and have a longer service life than copper cables. They also require less maintenance, making them more cost-effective in the long run. While the initial investment in fiber optic cables may be higher, lower maintenance and replacement costs, coupled with improved network security and reliability, can make fiber optic networks more cost-effective over time.

Main cloud service models

Initially, cloud computing was only used for remote job entry and time-sharing, and was used by large Internet service companies such as IBM and DEC. However, after 1970, cloud computing was used by IT organizations for core IT applications.

In the digital age of communications, cloud computing is applied in service-based infrastructure, large-capacity networks, remote data management and other fields. The core cloud service models are:

• Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Platform as a Service (PaaS)
• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

To achieve maximum results for these data-intensive applications and to make network services reliable, cloud computing needs to be optimized.

How does fiber optics enhance cloud computing networks?

Here’s how fiber interconnects work most efficiently in cloud computing networks:

• Higher Bandwidth – Fiber optics can transmit large amounts of data over a greater bandwidth. This has proven to be particularly useful for large-scale data transmission and high-definition online streaming and video applications. Fiber optics are often used to connect cloud servers and data centers, and data rates can reach several terabits per second, depending on the type of fiber and equipment used.
• More energy efficient – ​​Because data is transmitted using light in optical fibers, compared to copper interconnects that require electricity, significant cost savings can be achieved when large amounts of data are transmitted over cloud networks.
• Lower attenuation – With optical fiber, there is very little signal loss, even over long distances. The typical intrinsic attenuation for single-mode fiber is about 0.40 dB/km at 1310 nm. For multimode fiber, this value is slightly higher. However, they do not require signal repeaters like copper interconnects, resulting in efficient cloud networks.
• Scalability - Fiber optics offer perfect scalability to keep pace with expanding cloud environments and complex applications. High-density fiber optic cables with wavelength division multiplexing capabilities enable rapid scalability of cloud networks, which is not allowed by copper interconnects.

In summary, when faced with the risk of disasters and extreme weather conditions, fiber interconnects can “weather” the storm better than traditional electrical interconnects. This ensures that cloud networks truly deliver what they promise – 24/7 high-speed network connectivity and availability.