Plastic Fiber Optics
Years ago, fiber optics were touted as the ‘next big thing’ in digital communication, and plans were made to bring optical fiber connectivity into every house. Unfortunately, these high quality glass fibers are quite expensive, and the effort fell short of its goals because of this high cost.
Recent advancements in plastics quality and manufacturing has opened the door for plastic optical fibers which provide the same optical data transmission capabilities at a fraction of the cost. A new European initiative is underway to get such plastic optical fibers made and ready for mass deployment.
If this effort is successful, we could see a reinvigoration of the 20 year old effort to get optical connections to all homes and buildings. For us rural-yet-technologically-inclined folks, this is music to our ears.
