Eli5: How does data move through fiber optic cables?

Question

I understand that there are 1’s and 0’s (on/off) in binary code to transmit data, but does the light inside the fiber optic flash billions of times per second to simulate the 1’s and 0’s? Im also curious if copper ethernet cables work in a similar way to transmit data.

In: Technology

Answer 1

The light flashes (or, rather, is sent in pulses). The light is converted into electricity on the receiving end, with the intensity of the light resulting in higher voltages. From the perspective of the receiving computer, nothing really changes. In the end it gets high and low voltages as it would with a copper wire.