H35-911 practice question 3 of 15

In general, optical fiber transmission delivers lower capacity than microwave transmission.

Full set: 60 questions
Answer options
A: True
B: False
Correct Answer:
[FALSE]
Explanation

The statement is incorrect. In general, optical fiber transmission offers significantly higher bandwidth and, consequently, a much greater data-carrying capacity than microwave transmission. Optical fiber systems, particularly those using Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM), can support data rates in the range of terabits per second (Tbps) over long distances. In contrast, microwave transmission capacity is typically measured in gigabits per second (Gbps) and is constrained by factors such as available frequency spectrum, atmospheric conditions, and potential for interference.

Why Incorrect

The option "True" is incorrect because it misrepresents the fundamental capabilities of the two transmission media. The physical properties of light propagation in a guided medium (optical fiber) allow for an immensely larger bandwidth compared to the propagation of radio waves through the atmosphere (microwave). Therefore, stating that fiber has lower capacity is a factual error.

References

1. Huawei Official Documentation: In the HCIA-Access V2.5 curriculum

which the H35-911 exam is based on

the capabilities of optical access technologies like GPON are detailed. GPON itself supports downstream rates of 2.5 Gbps

and the underlying fiber infrastructure supports vastly more with technologies like WDM. Microwave is presented as a complementary technology

often used where fiber deployment is not feasible

but it does not surpass fiber in raw capacity.

Source: Huawei

"HCIA-Access V2.5 Training Material

" Section: Overview of Access Network. (This material typically highlights the evolution towards "Fiber-To-The-Home" (FTTH) precisely because of fiber's superior bandwidth and capacity advantages over older copper and wireless solutions).

2. Peer-Reviewed Academic Publications: Research consistently affirms the superior capacity of optical fiber. A comparative analysis highlights the physical limitations of the radio frequency spectrum used by microwaves versus the near-limitless bandwidth of the optical spectrum.

Source: Al-Azzawi

A. (2017). Fiber Optics: Principles and Practices. CRC Press. In Chapter 1

"Introduction to Fiber Optics

" the text compares various communication media

stating

"The information-carrying capacity of fiber optic cables is in the terabits per second (Tbps) range

whereas the capacity of copper cables or microwave radio is in the gigabits per second (Gbps) range." (DOI not applicable for book

but this is a standard

citable academic textbook).

3. University Courseware: Reputable engineering programs clearly delineate the capacity differences between guided (fiber) and unguided (microwave) media.

Source: MIT OpenCourseWare

Course 6.772 / ESD.752

"Compound Semiconductor Devices

" Spring 2003. In Lecture 1

"Introduction

" Professor Fonstad presents a comparison of transmission media

showing optical fiber with a potential bandwidth of 25 THz

orders of magnitude greater than the ~1-10 GHz bandwidth available for microwave links. This directly translates to a vastly higher potential data capacity for fiber.

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