How can water ingress affect fiber optic cables?

Water ingress can severely impact fiber optic cables by causing signal degradation and potentially damaging the fibers. Fiber optics rely on light transmission through glass or plastic strands, and the presence of water can disrupt this process. When water seeps into the cable, it compromises the integrity of the optical signal, leading to increased loss of signal strength and clarity, which results in reduced performance.

In addition to signal degradation, prolonged exposure to moisture can lead to physical damage to the fiber itself. Water can cause the cable's protective sheathing to deteriorate, allowing more moisture to enter and potentially leading to fiber breakage or malfunction. These effects cumulatively hinder the cable's ability to transmit data effectively, highlighting the importance of ensuring fiber optic installations are well-protected from environmental factors such as water.

The other options do not accurately reflect the relationship between water ingress and fiber optics, as water intrusion does not enhance signal quality, increase bandwidth capabilities, or have no impact on signal transmission.