Which of the following is a common application of polymer optical fibers?

The use of polymer optical fibers in networking within homes and offices is a common application due to several key advantages they offer for such environments. Polymer optical fibers are lightweight and flexible, making installation and handling easier in residential and commercial spaces. They are also less expensive than their glass counterparts, making them an attractive option for budget-conscious installations. Additionally, polymer optical fibers have decent performance for short-distance data transmission and can deliver high bandwidth, typically sufficient for internet and multimedia services in home and small office networks.

While polymer optical fibers have specific benefits, they may not be suitable for high-performance demands often found in undersea telecommunications or large corporation data transmission systems where glass optical fibers dominate due to their superior transmission capabilities over long distances. Similarly, military applications may require fibers with specialized characteristics like high durability and resistance to harsh environments, where glass fibers are often preferred. Thus, their use in home and office networking stands out as the most fitting application for polymer optical fibers.