Beyond Copper: The Reliability of Fibreoptic for Your Commercial Network

Here at Talk Together, we’re known for providing fantastic internet services, including cutting-edge full-fibre broadband to the premises (FTTP). But we also know that the cabling inside your business is just as important as the connection coming in.

For most standard office environments, high-quality copper ethernet cable is perfectly fine. However, when dealing with larger premises—like warehouses, factories, stadiums, or venues—or when you need a connection that goes the distance, the limitations of copper quickly become apparent.

The 100-Meter Rule: When Copper Falls Short

Copper ethernet cable, installed to a high standard, works reliably for cable runs up to 100 meters. Beyond that distance, the signal begins to weaken, which leads to slow speeds and unreliable connections.

For any installation requiring a run longer than 100 meters, fibre optic cable is the only reliable choice. Fibre optic transmits data using light, making it far faster, more reliable, and impervious to interference compared to traditional copper wire. This is why large-scale premises benefit so much from using fibre optic cable for their Local Area Network (LAN).

Case Study: Extending a Network at Langcross Farm

We recently put this expertise into practice at Langcross Farm in Cardiff. Our customer needed to extend their existing network to a new, separate office block on the property.

To bridge the gap between their existing building and the new data cabinet, we chose Excel armoured fibre optic cable. This cable was specifically selected for its resilience:

  • It was run through underground ducting, connecting into a new Excel data cabinet in the office block.
  • It is extremely rugged and provides built-in rodent resistance, protecting the connection from environmental damage.
  • It comes with a fantastic 25-year warranty, giving the customer total peace of mind.

The Secret Weapon: Fusion Splicing

Installing fibre optic cable requires specialised skills to ensure a perfect, uninterrupted connection. To join the optical fibres together, we used a fusion fibre splicer.

This gadget works by precisely melting and fusing two fibre ends, creating a nearly seamless join. This is absolutely essential for:

  1. Ensuring minimal signal loss across the entire network run.
  2. Creating a reliable and continuous data transmission path for decades to come.

These devices are vital for the successful installation, maintenance, and repair of all professional fibre optic networks.

Ready to Upgrade Your Network?

If your business operates across a large area or needs to connect buildings that are far apart, it’s time to talk about fibre optic.

Talk Together has the expertise, the equipment, and the high-quality cable to keep your entire operation connected and running at full speed.

Contact us today for a free site survey and network consultation!