What feature of fiber optics allows for higher bandwidth compared to copper cables?

The ability to transmit data as light pulses is the key feature that allows fiber optics to achieve significantly higher bandwidth compared to copper cables. Fiber optic technology employs light, typically from laser diodes or light-emitting diodes (LEDs), to send data. This method of transmission can carry large amounts of information across long distances without significant signal loss or degradation.

The wavelengths of light enable fiber optic cables to operate over a broader spectrum, allowing for higher data rates and capacities for data transmission. Additionally, the high frequency of light waves contributes to the increased bandwidth, permitting faster transmission speeds compared to the electrical signals used in copper cables, which are limited by phenomena such as attenuation, interference, and crosstalk.

This capability of transmitting data as light pulses differentiates fiber optics fundamentally from copper, leading to advantages in modern telecommunications and data networking where high bandwidth is essential. The other features mentioned, such as the physical size of cables, the use of multiple copper wires, and insulation materials, do not directly influence the bandwidth as significantly as the principle of transmitting data using light does.