Optical Carrier (OC)

Optical Carrier (OC) refers to a set of standardized levels used to measure the capacity of optical fiber communication systems. Essentially, it indicates how much data can be transmitted over a fiber optic cable at high speeds. These levels, like OC-1, OC-3, OC-12, etc., represent increasing data rates, with higher numbers meaning more information can be sent simultaneously. The OC standards help design and manage fiber optic networks efficiently, supporting internet, phone, and television services by ensuring reliable and fast data transmission through underwater and terrestrial cables.