Copper cable will never match the performance of Fiber. CAT6 systems will maintain a price advantage over fiber and in reality, there are many environments where the users will never require the speeds that fiber provides.
Utilizing light to transmit information over greater distances than copper, fiber is the perfect medium for connecting multiple locations on a campus, extending data past the CAT5/6 tolerance lengths and when building out the backbone for a building (connecting floors, or large groups to a central hub). Additionally, because there is no electric “signal” there is little to no interference allowing much greater speeds. CAT5 & CAT6 are affected by electromagnetic interference caused by heavy machinery, high voltage currents or magnetic fields generated by large motors, where fiber is not. Additionally, connecting sections of a building where utilizing CAT5 or CAT6 would exceed their tolerances for distance, fiber becomes a necessity.
When making the decision to install fiber connections there are many items to take into consideration. OM1 works very well for today’s connectivity, but most installations are expected to last 25 years. If it can be worked into your budget, OM3 is the smartest, long term choice. With network equipment replacement cycle being five years, OM3 will provide you with the greater speeds associated with the new devices.
MK2 Communications will access your needs and make sure you have the proper fiber (multi mode vs single mode), with the needed transmission speeds(OM3 vs. OM1) and the proper terminations to insure a good connection for your network.