Pure fiber optic data transmission cables contain no metallic copper. Eliminating copper delivers significant performance advantages:Unlike older copper-based systems, fiber optic cables rely on light rather than electrical current to move data, fundamentally altering the nature of any potential hazard. But does the composition of these advanced cables include metallic copper elements alongside the optical fiber strands? This. Fiber optic tends to be the more premium solution, while copper wiring is far more common, but why is that? What are the differences between these two cable types, and why might you want to pick one over the other? Here's everything you need to know about fiber vs. The selection of fiber optic cables over copper wires or vice versa depends on factors such as bandwidth, distance, and cost of transmission. They are the preferred choice for secure networks. Fiber optic cables transmit television, voice, and digital data signals via light waves through flexible, hair-like strands of glass and. A fiber-optic cable, also known as an optical-fiber cable, is an assembly similar to an electrical cable but containing one or more optical fibers that are used to carry light.