Waste reduction, lower energy consumption, and a more sustainable landscape are all features that make the fiber technology infrastructure an eco-friendly choice.
The potential for a more sustainable future is created with fiber optic cables that provide higher bandwidth for longer-distance data transfers. Higher connectivity can be directly related to increasing the number of work individuals can get done in a certain period of time and reducing the need to travel. More reliable, faster broadband connections impact countless areas of society. The internet has revolutionized the way people travel, work, socialize, and even the way individuals provide entertainment. However, even with all the positive aspects, there are still some drawbacks of coaxial cables on the environment, so looking towards a greener future with fiber optic cables will help combat some of these deficiencies.
According to , Information Technology (IT) activity can account for nearly 2% of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions, which may not sound like a staggering number but equates to the aviation industry in its entirety. One of the main goals for combatting this pollution is to make industrial advances toward a greener technological future.
3 Reasons Why Fiber Optic is Greener Than Coaxial
- Save Energy
Did you know that fiber optic cables are more energy-conserving? Otelco claims that when these cable types transmit light over a distance of 100 meters they only consume 1 watt compared to the consumed by coaxial cables. When less power is needed, less heat is generated which eliminates the need for a cooling system. This translates to saving equipment, space, and energy.
- Material Reduction
The Beacon states that fewer materials are needed to produce fiber optic cables than coaxial cables because they need less jacketing and insulation. In addition, coaxial cables rely heavily on the use of copper. The material copper poses a huge threat to the miners gathering it due to higher risks of cardiovascular cancer and even lung cancer. Not only does this process affect the workers involved, but copper mining can contaminate an ecosystem’s ability to sustain life. A great way to avoid these dangers is with fiber technology. Optic fibers are made from silicon dioxide, which is largely made up of oxygen and poses significantly less of a threat to those involved. There is also no mining method for these types of cables, but rather an environmentally friendly extraction process.
- Data Centers Become More Environmentally Friendly
More and more individuals are pushing for companies to reduce their impact on health and environmental concerns. The option of producing fiber technology can minimize companies’ use of heavy metals, such as lead and mercury. If companies reduce their involvement with heavy metals, they are also reducing their levels of pollution.
What Does This Mean?
The American Consumer Institute Center for Citizen Research, states that in a recent study, results show that the environmental benefits related to broadband subscriptions with fiber technology can notably reduce the gases associated with the Greenhouse effect. There is also insurmountable data suggesting that moving towards fiber optic cables can reduce energy and create a plethora of environmental and economic benefits.
GeoTel is proud to be a data provider for Telecom GIS Data and a part of this movement towards a greener energy future. GeoTel is the leading provider of telecommunications infrastructure data, including fiber routes and data center locations. For over seventeen years, GeoTel’s products have been providing companies and government entities with the leverage and insight necessary to make intelligent, location-based business decisions. If you are interested in the services offered by GeoTel, please contact us today!
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Author: Valerie Stephen
