What is a significant advantage of using fiber optic cables?

Fiber optic cables provide a significant advantage primarily due to their capacity for higher bandwidth and faster data transmission. The technology behind fiber optics allows for the transmission of data as light signals, which can travel much longer distances without signal degradation compared to copper cables. This capability enables fiber optic cables to support higher data rates and greater amounts of data at a given time, making them ideal for high-speed internet and extensive network backbones.

In contrast, other options either focus on characteristics that are not advantageous or highlight drawbacks. For example, fiber optic cables typically weigh less than copper, making the supposed higher weight an incorrect advantage. Additionally, while installation costs can be influenced by various factors, fiber optic installations often have a higher initial cost due to materials and labor, making the suggestion of lower installation costs misleading. Finally, fiber optics are generally less vulnerable to environmental effects compared to copper, which can suffer from electromagnetic interference and other external factors. Therefore, the higher bandwidth and faster data transmission capabilities of fiber optic cables stand out as the primary advantageous feature.