International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET)

Volume 2 Issue 11 pp 798-801 February 2014

www.ijsret.org

ISSN 2278 0882

Analyzing the Best Communication Media for

Physical Layer: A Critical Study
Abhishek Kasana1, Niharika Mittal2, Ratika Sharma3, Vartika Aggarwal4
1,2,3,4

Department of Computer Science,

1,2
ABES-IT, Ghaziabad, India
3
Accurate IMT, Ghaziabad, India
4
Jaypee Inst. of Tech., Noida, India

ABSTRACT
The communication speed between sender and receiver
is major issue. Physical layer in OSI Model is
responsible to communicate binary information from
sender to receiver. The best communication media can
provide us the better speed of communication. In this
research paper, a critical study has done on traditional
and latest communication media on physical layer.
Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) is the oldest technique then
Co-axial Cable introduced in the market which provides
higher speed and lesser disturbance than STP. Optical
Fiber changed the era of internet and provides higher
speed and lesser disturbance then all traditional media.
Now in todays world a huge amount of data has to be
transferred, which required higher speed. To transfer
multi-media content like real time high quality videos, a
higher speed is required. This higher speed can be
provided by Gigabyte Passive Optical Network (GPON).
Keywords Co-axial Cable, Gigabyte Passive Optical
Network, Optical Fiber, Shielded Twisted Pair.

I.

INTRODUCTION

The introduction of the paper should explain the nature

of the problem, previous work, purpose, and the
contribution of the paper. OSI model for networking has
seven layers physical layer, Data link layer, Network
Layer, Transport layer, Session layer, Presentation and
Application layer. Each and every layer is responsible
for a specific purpose [6].

data route form sender to receiver. It selects better route

for information transfer which results minimum delay
and quality of services. Transport layer works on port
level, it formats the data according to the user and its
port. Session layer maintain the session during sending
and receiving activity between sender and receiver.
Presentation layer encrypt and decrypt the data in fixed
form. Application layer provides some format and
protocols to the user for communication [6].
All the layers except physical layer works only on the
workstation while physical layer works in environment
also. It may be wired and wireless. In wireless
environment there are some standard to communicate the
information like Bluetooth, LAN, WAN, MAN, Wi-Fi,
Wi-Max etc. Communication through wired may be
possible by different wires. These wires may
differentiate on the basis of its structure, working and
capacity to transfer the data. In this research paper we
have distinguish these wired media and analyze that
which media is better in which conditions [9].
This research paper is organized in four segments. First
segment introduce the basics behind the OSI models and
its layers. Second segment focuses on physical layer and
its working. Third segment shows the comparison
among different media for data transfer on physical
layer. Fourth segment conclude the whole comparative
study.

II.
Physical layer is responsible for all type of
communication between sender and receiver. In physical
layer the actual data stream is transferred between sender
and receiver. Data stream is in binary form. Binary bits
have to transfer on communication media. Data link
layer frame the data bits according to the need of
physical layer and correct the error which may occur on
physical layer [7]. Network layer provides the actual

PHYSICAL
WORKING

LAYER

AND

ITS

Physical layer transfer the data between sender and

receiver in binary form. Different media are available to
work on physical layer like STP, Co-Axial Cable,
Optical Fiber and GPON. Actual data transfer is shown
in Fig. 1. At sender station data link layer provides the
data frame to the physical layer and physical layer
transmit the framed string of binary bits to the receiver.

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International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET)

Volume 2 Issue 11 pp 798-801 February 2014

At receiver end physical layer receives the string and

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ISSN 2278 0882

provides it to data link layer [6].

Figure 1: Data transmission in physical layer [9].

Communication of binary bits takes place with the help

of different communication media.

III.
COMMUNICATION MEDIA
Different types of communication media
explained in this part of the study.

is

SHIELDED TWISTED PAIR (STP):

Shielded twisted pair is oldest and cheapest
media for data communication. These are the
wires covered by insulated plastic. It is in pair
as shown in Fig. 2 [1].

Figure 3: Co-Axial Cable [11].

OPTICAL FIBER:
Optical fiber is used to support higher speed
data communication, specially designed for 3G
data communication. There are a large number
of glass pipes in a single optical fiber [2,8].
Optical fiber works on total internal reflection
method. Internal structure of optical fiber is
shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 2: Shielded Twisted Pair [10].

CO-AXIAL CABLE:
Co-Axial Cable is the next generation cable
then STP. Co-Axial Cable contains centre core,
dielectric insulator, metallic shield and plastic
jacket. Co-Axial cable is better than STP for
longer distance [7]. Internal structure of CoAxial Cable is shown in Fig. 3.

Figure 4: Optical Fiber [12]

GIGABYTE
NETWORK:

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PASSIVE

OPTICAL

International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET)

Volume 2 Issue 11 pp 798-801 February 2014

www.ijsret.org

GPON is designed for real time bulk data

transfer. It is mostly used for high quality multimedia content. It contains optical line terminal
and reduces the number of fibers [3,4]. GPON

ISSN 2278 0882

is the faster then other technologies available

for data communication [5]. Actual working of
GPON has presented in Fig. 5.

Figure 5: Gigabyte Passive Optical Network [13].

IV.
COMPARISION CHART
Comparison among different type of data
communication media is shown in Table 1.
Comparison has done on the basis of different
parameters like cost, technique, Noise, Data
transmission speed, Transmission capacity, error

introduction probability and Environment for better

use.

IJSRET @ 2014

International Journal of Scientific Research Engineering & Technology (IJSRET)

Volume 2 Issue 11 pp 798-801 February 2014

www.ijsret.org

ISSN 2278 0882

Table 1: Comparative Study for Data Communication Technologies

S. No.

Parameter

STP

Co-Axial

Fiber Optics

1.

Cost

Less

Higher then STP

Higher then STP

Highest
and Co-Axial

2.

Technique

Electric Waves

Electronic Waves

Light Waves

3.

Noise

More

Less than STP

Less Than
Axial

4.

Data
Transmission Less
Speed

Higher than STP

Higher then CoHighest

Axial

5.

Transmission
Less
capacity

Higher than STP

Higher than CoHighest

Axial

6.

Error
introduction
probability

Highest

Less than STP

Less than Co-Axial

7.

Environment
for better use

For less distance

For
distance

V. CONCLUSION
Overall study concluded to different media for data
communication. Anybody can identify the better
technology according to its requirement. In future
this study can be enhanced for other layers of OSI
model. Similarly we can analyze the technique for
different layers and can choose best technique
according to our requirement.
REFERENCES
[1] Gi-Hong Im, Kyu-Min Kang and Cheol-Jin Park,
FEXT Cancellation for Twisted-Pair Transmission,
IEEE JOURNAL ON SELECTED AREAS IN
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[2] Urs Utzinger and R.R. Richards-Kortum, Fiber optic
probes for biomedical optical spectroscopy, Journal of
Biomedical Optics 8(1), 121147 (January 2003).
[3] Jin Jiang and John M. Senior, A New efficient
dynamic MAC protocol for the delivery of multiple
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18:227236 DOI 10.1007/s11107-009-0186-x.
[4] Tiago Cruz, Paulo Simoes, Edmundo Monteiro,
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longer For very

distance

GPON

Light Waves
Co-

Minimum

Minimum

large For very large

distance

Framework for Internet Media Services Delivery to the

Home Environment, J Netw Syst Manage DOI
10.1007/s10922-012-9228-2.
[5] WANG Xin, ZHAO Yang and GU Wanyi, QoSaware dynamic bandwidth allocation algorithm for
Gigabit-capable PONS, Front. Electr. Electron. Eng.
China 2007, 2(3): 255259 DOI 10.1007/s11460-0070047-2
[6] B. A. Forouzan, Data Communication and
Networking. The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2006.
[7] William Stallings, Data and Computer
communication, 2009,Person publication.
[8] Simon Kwan, Principles of Optical Fibers, San Jose
State University , 2002.
[9]http://computer--networking.blogspot.in/2013/04/osimodel-understanding-seven-layers-of.html
[10] http://www.jfcablinginc.com/FYI.html
[11]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coaxial_cable_cuta
way.svg
[12]
http://www.aflglobal.com/Products/Fiber-OpticCable/ADSS/Standard-Design-Cable/Aerial-DielectricSelf-Supporting-%28ADSS%29-Optical-F.aspx
[13]http://www.tracespan.com/iptestheadsolutions.aspx

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