The inside of the cable is copper core wire; the inside of the optical cable is glass fiber. Communication optical cable is a kind of communication line in which a certain number of optical fibers form a cable core according to a certain method, which is covered with a sheath, and some are also covered with an outer sheath to realize optical signal transmission. Before we understand the difference between communication cables and optical cables, we must first understand the development history of cables and optical cables.

In 1976, the Bell Institute of the United States built the first optical fiber communication experimental system in Atlanta, using the optical cable containing 144 optical fibers manufactured by Western Electric Company.

In 1980, commercial optical cables made of multimode optical fibers began to be used in inter-city inter-office trunks and a few long-distance lines.

Commercial fiber optic cables made of single-mode fiber began to be used on long-distance lines in 1983.

In 1988, the first trans-Atlantic submarine optical cable connecting the United States and Britain and France was successfully laid, and soon the first trans-Pacific submarine optical cable was built.

China developed its own communication optical cable in 1978, using multimode optical fiber, and the cable core structure is layered. Field tests have been carried out in Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan and other places successively.

Soon after, it was used as an inter-office trunk in the local telephone network. After 1984, it was gradually used for long-distance lines, and single-mode fiber was used.

Communication optical cables have larger transmission capacity than copper cables, long relay distance, small size, light weight, and no electromagnetic interference. Since 1976, they have developed into long-distance trunk lines, urban relays, offshore and transoceanic submarine communications , as well as the backbone of wired transmission lines for local area networks, private networks, etc., and began to develop into the field of user loop distribution networks in the city, providing transmission lines for fiber-to-the-home and broadband integrated service digital networks.

So, what is the difference between a communication cable and an optical cable?

A communication cable is usually a rope-like cable formed by twisting several or several groups of conductors [at least two in each group]. Each group of conductors is insulated from each other and often twisted around a center. A highly insulating covering; especially a submarine cable.

First: there are differences in materials. The cable is made of metal material (mostly copper, aluminum) as the conductor; the optical cable is made of glass fiber as the conductor.

Second: There is a difference in the transmission signal. Cables transmit electrical signals. Optical cables transmit optical signals.

Third: There are differences in the scope of application. Cables are now mostly used for energy transmission and low-end data information transmission (such as telephone). Optical cables are mostly used for data transmission.