Final answer:
The two basic types of SE cables are copper and fiber-optic. Fiber-optic cables offer advantages such as low loss, high bandwidth, and reduced crosstalk, which make them superior to copper cables for long-distance communications.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two basic types of SE (Service Entrance) cables are copper and fiber-optic cables. Copper cables are traditional electrical wires that use a copper conductor to transmit electricity. Fiber-optic cables use strands of glass or plastic fibers to transmit light signals, which carry data. These light signals in fiber-optic cables offer low loss, meaning they can travel long distances without significant signal weakening, and high bandwidth, allowing for a greater number of communications to be carried simultaneously compared to copper cables. Additionally, fiber-optic cables have reduced crosstalk, resulting in minimal interference between adjacent fibers.