Choosing the right cabling backbone matters more than most office IT decisions. Fiber optic transmits data as light pulses, giving it far higher bandwidth and much lower signal loss over distance compared to copper.
Copper (Cat5e/Cat6) is cheaper and easier to terminate, and still perfectly adequate for short desk-to-switch runs. But for backbone links between floors or buildings, fiber's immunity to electromagnetic interference and its ability to run hundreds of meters without a repeater make it the clear choice for growing offices.
GLC Networks designs hybrid cabling plans — fiber for the backbone, copper for the last mile — to balance cost and performance for our business clients.