--- title: The Positive Impact of Using Optical Fibers on Cell Towers description: Using optical fiber on cell towers helps to handle the increased load on networks that came with 4G. LTE, and continues increasing with 5G. image: https://www.m2optics.com/hubfs/2015_Images/Blog_Images/Cell_Tower.jpg --- - **Phone** [919-342-5619](tel:919-342-5619) - **Toll Free** [866-269-2902](tel:866-269-2902) - **Email** [sales@m2optics.com](mailto:sales@m2optics.com) [![footer-logo](https://www.m2optics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/M2_Optics_2021/footer-logo.png?width=166&height=58&name=footer-logo.png "footer-logo")](https://www.m2optics.com/) [![Request a Call](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/39436/fc7235a3-fa4d-4c7f-bc75-7336bfb927cc.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/39436/fc7235a3-fa4d-4c7f-bc75-7336bfb927cc) # The Positive Impact of Using Optical Fibers on Cell Towers Posted by [Jonathan Tuck](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/author/jonathan-tuck) on Wed, Sep 2, 2015 @ 14:09 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) While fiber optic technology has been utilized for many years in the communications industry, consumers generally identify with the role that it plays in wired communications such as Cable TV, Fiber-To-The-Home, and the related networking equipment.  However, what most overlook or do not realize is the significant impact that deploying optical fibers has also had on something consumers use every day – mobile devices.  In order to achieve the high speed data levels that we have become accustomed to when using mobile devices, cell towers and their supporting networks had to be retrofitted with optical fiber cables. The transition from copper to fiber first started when 3G mobile technology was first introduced, but when 4G LTE technology was deployed, the service providers’ equipment in almost every cell tower had to be upgraded.  The primary reason for this was to support the need for the higher frequencies and faster speeds that the existing 1 5/8 ” coax cables on most cell towers could not handle. Since the primary feed line to most cell towers had been upgraded already, connecting the cell systems in the towers with fiber was the next step. ![Cell_Tower](https://www.m2optics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2015_Images/Blog_Images/Cell_Tower.jpg?width=195&name=Cell_Tower.jpg) ***So what positive changes occurred when transitioning to optical fiber in the cell tower?*** First, engineers could now design systems with fiber that run solely off of DC power.  The result was that a very small (less than a ½” in diameter) 16-pair optical fiber cable and two small multi-strand DC cables could replace as many as 12 to 18, 1 5/8” coax cables which are sometimes called “hard lines”.  As you can see, this is a significant improvement. Secondly, after the hard lines are taken off and replaced with [optical fiber cables](https://www.m2optics.com/optical-fibers), both the weight and wind drag are drastically reduced on the cell tower.  The amount of weight and wind drag that is reduced when swapping coax for a fiber-based system is almost unbelievable.  Thousands of pounds of materials are removed and space on the tower is dramatically increased.  In addition to amount of material, a lot of time is saved in comparison to having to add 12 to 18 more hard lines to each system. By upgrading to incorporate optical fiber cables into the infrastructure, today’s cell towers have realized significant improvements not only in mobile network performance, but also from an architectural standpoint. Topics: [optical fiber](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/optical-fiber) --- ![M2 Optics, Inc.](https://www.m2optics.com/hubfs/M2%20Optics%2c%20Inc.-%20Transparent.png "M2 Optics, Inc.") ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [optical fiber (57)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/optical-fiber) - [network simulation (28)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/network-simulation) - [fiber optic testing (19)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/fiber-optic-testing) - [latency (19)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/latency) - [fiber monitoring (14)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/fiber-monitoring) - [optical time delays (14)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/optical-time-delays) - [otdr (11)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/otdr) - [fiber optic training (9)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/fiber-optic-training) - [multimode fiber (8)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/multimode-fiber) - [PON (7)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/pon) - [fiber optics (7)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/fiber-optics) - [fiber optic cable (5)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/fiber-optic-cable) - [fiber optic networks (5)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/fiber-optic-networks) - [optical taps (5)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/optical-taps) - [single mode fiber (5)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/single-mode-fiber) - [RFoF (4)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/rfof) - [WDM (4)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/wdm) - [dispersion compensating fiber (4)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/dispersion-compensating-fiber) - [fiber lab (4)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/fiber-lab) - [omi (4)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/omi) - [Optical fiber market (3)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/optical-fiber-market) - [optical switching (3)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/optical-switching) - [3D design (2)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/3d-design) - [fiber characterization (2)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/fiber-characterization) - [hollow-core optical fiber (2)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/hollow-core-optical-fiber) - [multicore optical fiber (2)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/multicore-optical-fiber) - [1.6Tb/s optical transceivers (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/1-6tb-s-optical-transceivers) - [2024 Paris Olympics (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/2024-paris-olympics) - [3D Printing (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/3d-printing) - [3D design and printing servives (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/3d-design-and-printing-servives) - [3D printing and design for Telecom (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/3d-printing-and-design-for-telecom) - [3d printing and design services for Fiber Optics (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/3d-printing-and-design-services-for-fiber-optics) - [3d rapid prototyping (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/3d-rapid-prototyping) - [5g (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/5g) - [AI (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/ai) - [IOR (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/ior) - [Lightium (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/lightium) - [OM5 (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/om5) - [OM5 wideband multimode optical fiber (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/om5-wideband-multimode-optical-fiber) - [RF-over-Fiber (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/rf-over-fiber) - [Silicon Photonics (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/silicon-photonics) - [TFLN (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/tfln) - [bare optical fiber (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/bare-optical-fiber) - [best practices (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/best-practices) - [blockchain (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/blockchain) - [broadband service (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/broadband-service) - [calculate latency (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/calculate-latency) - [chromatic dispersion (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/chromatic-dispersion) - [cybersecurity (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/cybersecurity) - [data centers (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/data-centers) - [dc fiber (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/dc-fiber) - [dcf (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/dcf) - [drone fiber spool canisters (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/drone-fiber-spool-canisters) - [egaming (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/egaming) - [electric utilities (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/electric-utilities) - [fiber network simulators (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/fiber-network-simulators) - [fiber optic drone (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/fiber-optic-drone) - [fiber tether (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/fiber-tether) - [fusion splice (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/fusion-splice) - [gas and electric (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/gas-and-electric) - [high-index optical fiber (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/high-index-optical-fiber) - [index of refraction (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/index-of-refraction) - [innovation (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/innovation) - [mechanical splice (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/mechanical-splice) - [online gaming (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/online-gaming) - [optical fiber attenuation (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/optical-fiber-attenuation) - [optical fiber reference guide (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/optical-fiber-reference-guide) - [optical fiber tension (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/optical-fiber-tension) - [otdr testing service (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/otdr-testing-service) - [otdr trace (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/otdr-trace) - [otdr training (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/otdr-training) - [pm fiber (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/pm-fiber) - [polarization-maintaining optical fiber (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/polarization-maintaining-optical-fiber) - [quantum computing (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/quantum-computing) - [refractive index (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/refractive-index) - [space division multiplexing (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/space-division-multiplexing) - [submarine fiber cable (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/submarine-fiber-cable) - [thin film lithium niobate (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/thin-film-lithium-niobate) - [transportation network (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/transportation-network) - [types of otdr events (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/types-of-otdr-events) - [universities and research (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/universities-and-research) - [university campus (1)](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/topic/university-campus) [see all](https://www.m2optics.com/blog/the-positive-impact-of-using-optical-fibers-on-cell-towers#) ### ![pin-icon](https://www.m2optics.com/hubfs/M2_Optics_2021/Home/search-pin.png) **Headquarters** 5621 Departure Dr, Ste 117 Raleigh, NC 27616, USA ### ![phone-icon](https://www.m2optics.com/hubfs/M2_Optics_2021/Home/call.png) **Call Us** Phone: [1-919-342-5619](tel:1-919-342-5619) Toll Free: [866-269-2902](tel:866-269-2902) ### ![email-icon](https://www.m2optics.com/hubfs/M2_Optics_2021/Home/email.png) **Email Us** [sales@m2optics.com](mailto:sales@m2optics.com) [![M2 Optics](https://www.m2optics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/M2_Optics_2021/footer-logo.png?width=166&height=58&name=footer-logo.png "M2 Optics")](https://www.m2optics.com/) Offering customized solutions for fiber network simulation, optical time delay, and network testing applications that allow each user to specify exactly what they need. [**](https://www.facebook.com/m2optics/) [**](https://twitter.com/M2Optics) [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/2288956) ### Subscribe Sign up to get the latest news, current blog posts, and most up-to-date information on fiber optic technology. Copyright © 2021 M2Optics, Inc. All rights reserved. | [Privacy Policy](https://www.m2optics.com/privacy-policy)