OFC Full Form

OFC full form is Optical Fibre Cables. OFC is also an electric cable but it consists of optical fibres which helps to carry light. Optical Fibre cables have multiple applications. OFC are of two main types which are multimode and single-mode. Check more about OFCs like their applications, benefits, origin etc.

What is the Full Form of OFC?

As mentioned above the full form of OFC is Optical Fiber Cable. It is a cable that contains one or more optical fibres that are used to transmit light. Optical fibres are made of very thin strands of glass or plastic that transmit light by total internal reflection. This means that the light is reflected back into the fibre at the boundary between the core and the cladding, which is a material with a lower refractive index.

Light rays are reflected into the fibres within the core of an optical fibre by total internal reflection. This process allows light to travel for great distances with little attenuation or loss of intensity. The degree of attenuation varies according to the wavelength of the light, but in general, optical fibres can transmit light with very little loss.

Different Types of OFCs

The optical fibre cable is categorised into 3 types:

1. Based on the Reflective Index OFC: They are further divided into two types:

• Step Index Fibre: It has a core with a refractive index and a uniform sheath with a small index of refraction. 
• Graded Index Fibres: The graded index fibres are also a type of optical fibre whose refractive index of the core decreases continuously which further results in the increase of radial distance from the optical axis of the fibre but they have a uniform refractive index.

2. Based on material used in making: Optical Fibre is made from two materials which are mentioned below

• Polymer Optical Fibre:  They are also termed as POF which is an optical fibre made of polymer. Similar to glass optical fibres, POFs transmit light (for illumination or information) through the core. POF has bigger and better advantages over glass products as their resistance to bending and stretching is more.
• Glass Fibre Cable: Optical glass fibres are made from glass fibres packaged in an application-specific sheath, just like stainless steel for providing better durability and heat-resisting ability. They are attached to photoelectric sensors and help in guiding light to reach the target.

3. Based on the propagation of light: It is divided into two categories

• Single-Mode Fibres: They are made from a bundle of glass fibres that is used to transmit a single type of light. A single fibre has only one transmission mode. They carry higher bandwidth compared to multimode fibre, however they require a source of light that has narrow spectral width.
• Multi-mode Fibres: Multimode fibre is an optical fibre that supports the propagation of multiple modes. The diameter of the cable is 50-100 micrometres and they cause more distortion & less bandwidth than Single-mode fibre.

Purpose of an OFC

Optical Fibre Cables (OFC full form) are gaining popularity every day. The Indian government is also funding various projects to improve the infrastructure of the OFC network. The fibre optic cable (OFC) market in India is expected to grow with a 17% CAGR by 2023. Government initiatives such as Digital India, Smart City or Bharatnet have increased the use of fibre in homes and offices.

What are the Applications of OFCs?

• Telecommunication- OFCs are used to transmit data over long distances at high speeds. They function as the backbone of the internet and are also used for long-distance telephone calls.
• Data Networking- OFCs are also used for connecting computers and other devices in local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs). They offer higher bandwidth and lower latency than copper cables, making them ideal for high-speed data transmission.
• Cable Television- The transmission of television signals to homes and businesses are also done with optical fibre cables. They offer better picture quality and more channels than traditional coaxial cables.
• Medical imaging- Apart from generic use OFCs are also used in medical imaging devices such as endoscopes and laparoscopes. They allow doctors to look inside the body without surgery.
• Industrial Applications- A variety of industrial applications are also made by OFCs such as machine vision, process control, and robotics. OFCs provide high bandwidth, low latency, and immunity to electromagnetic interference.

Advantages and Disadvantages of OFCs

OFC, full form of which is Optical Fibre Cable, have a variety of applications that provides different advantages to the users such as:

• High bandwidth- Compared to copper cables, OFCs transmit data at much higher speeds. Due to this property, it makes OFC ideal for applications that require high-speed data.
• Low latency- Optical fibre cables have very low latency, which means that data can be transmitted quickly and efficiently. This is important for applications that require real-time data transmission.
• Immunity to electromagnetic interference- OFCs are good for applications that are sensitive to interference due to its immunity to electromagnetic interference.
• Durability- OFCs are durable and can withstand harsh environments, and are used for outdoor applications.
• Security- One cannot tap OFCs, which makes them of great use for high security such as military communications and financial transactions.

Disadvantages:

Along with great advantages optical fibre cables (OFC full form) do have some disadvantages such as:

• Cost- Optical fibre cables are more expensive than copper cables.
• Installation- Optical fibre cables are more difficult to install than copper cables.
• Maintenance- Optical fibre cables require less maintenance than copper cables, but they can be damaged if they are not properly handled.
• Not suitable for all applications- Optical fibre cables are not suitable for all applications. For example, they are not as good as copper cables for carrying high-frequency signals.

Written By: Deepit Mathur