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In which year were cables replaced by optical cables
1980s - Global Expansion: By the 1980s, fiber optic cables began replacing copper cables in major communication networks, particularly for long-distance telephone lines and undersea. (Awarded Nobel Prize in 2009) Ethernet was invented at Xerox Palo Alto. Since I was involved in fiber optics starting in the late 1970s, much of this is from personal experiences and memories. Dates, of course, are often approximate, as putting a firm date on the introduction of a new technology is often impossible. For New England companies weighing cabling upgrades, seeing that arc of progress makes it easier to trust that fiber will.