Physical media
Optical fiber: thin glass or plastic light conductor
- Digital networks, telephony and data, television
- From 10’s MB/s to GB/s
- From 1 to 10 km
- Point-to-point (multi-point is expensive)
- Superior noise immunity
- Relatively high cost -- longer-distance applications at high data rates
Line-of-Sight Media: atmospheric directional electromagnetic transmission
- Microwave, laser, infrared
- Few MB/s with very high data rates possible
- Point-to-point
- Varied reliability
- Low cost, but specialized equipment at end-points