Optical cables use light pulses to transmit data, while copper cables use electrical signals. This fundamental variance in transmission methods results in different capabilities and performance characteristics for each type of cable. We often hear about optical cable vs. But do you know what they are? And furthermore, what are the differences between them? Hone Optical Communications has 19+ years of experience on communications and network. In layman's terms, an interconnect is a cable or connection which can link two or more devices electrically or optically. This allows efficient transmission of data and power between server to server, rack to rack, module to module, backplane to backplane, board to board, and chip to chip. Choosing between optical and electrical interfaces is a crucial decision when building high-performance networks. The pots, cables, and connectors are completely different, and there are pretty vital nuances in how they function and key areas in which either excel. The question, or rather decision. Differences between cables and optical cables Cable: When the phone converts an acoustic signal into an electrical signal, the phone transmits the electrical signal to the switch through the line, and then the switch directly transmits the electrical signal to another phone.