The principle behind fiber optics dates back to the mid 1800s. Through the years, fiber optic technology has been used in a number of applications, including in the television cameras that NASA sent to the moon in 1969. Today, optical fiber cables used for Internet are synonymous with speed, and are especially useful when transferring data over long distances.
The cable is made up of strands of incredibly thin optically pure glass that carry digital information with light instead of electrical currents used with Ethernet. There are two basic types of fiber optic cable: single-mode and multi-mode. Single-mode fiber cables use laser light to send signals, and they are thinner than multi-mode fiber cables.  Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are used to send signals in multi-mode fiber cables, and multi-mode cables are usually used over short distances. Data transfer rates between 10 Mbps to 10 gigabytes per second (Gbps) are the norm.

• SPEED: Fiber optic networks operate at high speeds - up into the gigabits
• BANDWIDTH: large carrying capacity
• DISTANCE: Signals can be transmitted further without needing to be "refreshed" or    strengthened.
• RESISTANCE: Greater resistance to electromagnetic noise such as radios, motors or      other nearby cables.
• MAINTENANCE: Fiber optic cables costs much less to maintain.