The Backbone of the World : 20 Interesting Facts About Fiber Optics

Fiber cables carry data using invisible infrared laser light. This light, reflected within glass fibers, travels for kilometers, reducing signal loss to almost zero. It is imperceptible to the eye but carries hundreds of billions of bits per second.

Modern fiber cables can transmit 1 million HD movies simultaneously. Data traffic flows like a massive highway: uninterrupted, stable, and silent. It's said to have such a capacity that even if everyone in Istanbul watched a movie on a digital platform at the same time, the system wouldn't be strained.

Fiber cables are produced with less energy and leave less waste compared to copper. Thanks to their lightweight structure, they are also more economical to transport. This environmentally friendly technology combines high performance with sustainability.

In 1985, off the Canary Islands, fiber cables became the target of sharks. When these creatures, which sense electromagnetic signals, bit the cables, engineers found the solution in Kevlar coatings. In addition, these cables detect whale songs at 1329 Hz, monitor dolphin movements, and measure ship speeds using DAS technology, transforming the seas into a sensor network. This capability is also among the application areas of the FOTAS system.

Fiber cables transmit information like the nervous system: fast, low-loss, and uninterrupted. One sustains the inside of the body, the other global digital networks. It is an example of engineering inspired by biology.

Fiber optic systems are used in many medical applications, from endoscopy to laser surgery. They illuminate the body from the inside, enabling doctors to perform millimeter-precision interventions. Fewer cuts, more healing.

Fiber cables offer high security, but light can leak at bending points. This makes passive listening possible with special devices. DAS (Distributed Acoustic Sensing) technology comes into play at this point: even the smallest vibrations can be detected along the fiber line. The FOTAS system, developed in Turkey, uses this technology to instantly detect intrusions and unauthorized interventions in critical infrastructure.

Investments in fiber infrastructure can prevent million-dollar losses for businesses due to latency. For example, Nigeria is planning a $2 billion fiber expansion investment in the last quarter of 2025. This means not just connectivity but also direct economic growth.

Fiber networks equipped with quantum key distribution instantly destroy data when external interference is detected. The 20 km fiber line established in Karlsruhe, Germany, in January 2025, was the first step towards the goal of securely connecting quantum computers by 2030.

Fiber cables are not affected by electromagnetic fields. They work seamlessly even near MRI devices, high-voltage lines, or base stations. For this reason, they are preferred in industrial, medical, and military fields.

Robots roaming the surface of Mars examine rock and soil samples with fiber optic sensors. These sensors analyze chemical traces based on the reflection of light, gathering information without contact. Fiber optic cables used in exploration vehicles like Perseverance direct invisible light and listen to the silence of space.

95% of the global internet is carried by undersea fiber cables. While satellites remain supportive, the main data backbone relies on glass lines. These lines, stretching across the ocean floor, are the invisible nervous system of our age.

Fiber cables use infrared laser light. This light is imperceptible to the eye but can cause permanent eye damage if looked at directly. For this reason, fiber ends are always kept protected.

Fiber optic lighting systems used in museums like the Louvre enable the elegant illumination of artworks. Unlike traditional light sources, these systems protect artifacts from heat and ultraviolet rays, thus making it possible to display artworks without causing damage. Fiber optic cables direct light very precisely, illuminating the works elegantly, just like a light carrier in space, protecting and illuminating them. Invisible light reveals the secrets whispered by historical artifacts.

Vibrations occurring in the earth's crust during an earthquake can be sensitively detected by fiber cables. DAS technology detects seismic waves before they reach the surface and provides early warning. The FOTAS system processes this data from fiber lines installed on the seabed of the Marmara Sea, providing a chance to intervene seconds before a potential earthquake.

The core of fiber optic cables is made of ultra-pure silica glass. This glass is so pure that contaminants are measured in parts per billion (ppb). If this glass were a window, you could see clearly through it even if it were 40 km thick—40,000 times clearer than diamonds!

Fiber optic cables can listen to the internal sounds of structures. DAS technology detects micro-vibrations, crack formations, and deformations in buildings. This system provides structural safety monitoring using this data in tunnels, bridges, and high-rise structures. Fiber now not only transmits data but also monitors the health of structures.

Fiber optic sensors enable smart agriculture by monitoring soil moisture and nutrient levels with nanometer precision. The same lines ensure ecosystem security by detecting illegal entries and microseismic movements in forests. Food production and nature conservation now advance with the same light.

The experiment by Colladon and Babinet in the 1840s, showing that light could be guided within water, was the first spark of the fiber optic idea. With Corning's production of low-loss glass fiber in 1970, this idea transformed into a technology that built the communication infrastructure of the entire world.

Temperature anomalies occur before fires grow. DTS (Distributed Temperature Sensing) technology instantly detects these changes along fiber cables. DTS systems operating with the FOTAS infrastructure detect potential fires in tunnels, warehouses, and energy facilities before they start, providing security personnel with the opportunity for early intervention.