What is the primary concern regarding improper bending of cables in fiber-optic systems?

The primary concern regarding improper bending of cables in fiber-optic systems is that it typically causes higher signal losses. Fiber-optic cables transmit data through light, and if these cables are bent too sharply or excessively, it can disrupt the path of the light traveling through the fiber. This disruption can result in increased attenuation, which means that the signal strength is weakened, leading to a loss of data integrity and potential performance issues.

Although the other concerns—maintenance costs, troubleshooting complexities, and outages—are valid issues related to cable management, the most immediate and directly impactful consequence of improper bending is the degradation of the signal itself. Signal loss translates to poorer performance and can cause communication errors, which is critical in fiber-optic systems where maintaining a clear and strong signal is essential for effective data transmission.