Lantronix TN-USB Series Fiber-to-the-Desk Application Note

Fiber-to-the-Desk (FTTD)

In today’s networks, fiber optic cabling is frequently used as the backbone of communications

network cabling, from the entrance into a building to various telephone/data equipment closets

serving users on different floors of the building. But now, more and more organizations are

capitalizing on the benefits of fiber optic cable to connect directly to desktops, laptops, or other

communications equipment.

“Fiber-to-the-Desk” (FTTD) refers to the extension of the fiber

optic infrastructure directly to user locations.

Advantages

Here are some of the many advantages to using fiber optic cable to connect to the main fiber

network directly at the desktop:

Security

Fiber optic cable is immune to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio-frequency

interference (RFI), and is therefore more challenging for hackers to tap. Because copper cables

emit electromagnetic signals, hackers can read data from nearby without physically touching the

lines. Machinery, fluorescent lights, and radio signaling equipment used for communications,

including wireless communications, can also create EMI and RFI. In contrast, fiber optic cable

uses light that is completely shielded so hackers would have to physically splice into the line,

which is difficult to do and easily detected. For organizations concerned with data security, fiber

optic cable is the most secure option.

Bandwidth and Distance

Fiber optic cable has the ability to support higher data rates than any other cable type, with

capacity to transmit hundreds of terabits per second. As demand for more data-intensive

applications continues to increase, fiber cable will offer the best bandwidth to accommodate it.

As adoption of 10 Gigabit Ethernet becomes increasingly more common, 40 and 100 Gigabit

Ethernet will follow. Although higher grades of twisted pair cable are allowable for transmitting

these high bandwidth signals, they will only be able to do so over very short distances.

Therefore, fiber optic cable is the best choice for transporting higher speed and higher

bandwidth signals over longer distances.

Lower Overall Cost

The advantages of fiber allow network designers to centralize their network equipment in one

MDF or wiring closet and run fiber cables to each work area throughout a building, rather than

having a separate equipment closet on each floor. When the number of equipment closets is

reduced, the amount of space, power, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment