A fiber-optic system transmits data as light pulses in digital form, and several types of information can be carried on a single line.
Most carriers now use satellites as a backup system if their fiber-optic system fails.
Now that we know how fiber-optic systems work and why they are useful - how do they make them?
The Northern Telecom part is far cheaper to manufacture and could reduce the cost of fiber-optic systems significantly.
The bridge has a fiber-optic system that monitors it for issues that could affect its structural integrity.
In 1992 parts of the new fiber-optic system were activated.
While coaxial and fiber-optic systems have a relatively large bandwidth capacity, service can suffer if too many customers are using it at the same time.
Metropolitan Fiber said last week that it had completed construction of an urban fiber-optic system in lower Manhattan.
A fiber-optic system appeared on the console that monitored exterior lights and there was no glove box.
The lighting in the hands, numerals and minute marks is being replaced with a fiber-optic system.