Final answer:
Optical data transfer via optical fibers offers higher speed and bandwidth, low cost, extended range, and reduced interference compared to wireline transfer, resulting in better and cheaper data transmission.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some of the advantages of optical data transfer over wireline data transfer, such as copper-based systems, are its higher speed and bandwidth, lower cost, extended range due to low loss, and being less susceptible to interference like reduced crosstalk. Optical fibers, through which laser signals are transmitted, have the capability for far greater data transmission because they can be extremely transparent. This allows light to travel many kilometers without significant loss, known as low loss. With high bandwidth, lasers can carry more conversations within one optical fiber compared to electrical signals on a wire. Moreover, due to reduced crosstalk, optical signals in one fiber largely avoid affecting adjacent fibers, which is an essential consideration in densely packed cables. These features contribute to the cheaper, faster, and better-quality data transmission, laying the groundwork for technologies like free Internet-based calling and video calling. The subject also touches upon the use of corner reflectors for precision measurements, such as the increasing distance to the moon, and the suitability of high-frequency microwaves for communication due to their information capacity, although they require a clear line of sight.