When it comes to designing or upgrading a network, one of the first questions IT teams face is whether to use copper or fiber cabling. The answer? It depends on distance, speed requirements, budget, and sometimes even what’s already in place. But understanding the strengths and limits of each option is key to making the right choice for your infrastructure.

This post breaks it all down: copper categories, fiber types, optics, connectors, and even a few of those small but critical gotchas that can make or break your deployment.