Final answer:
Fiber optics are preferred for future communications due to their high bandwidth and speed capabilities, along with low loss and reduced crosstalk, which outperform traditional copper-based systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fiber optics are highly regarded as the communications media of the future, primarily due to their high bandwidth and speed, which is the correct answer to the student's question. These optical fiber communication systems have a significant advantage over traditional electrical copper-based systems because they allow light to travel many kilometers before needing amplification, which is a low-loss characteristic. Furthermore, the ability of lasers to emit light that can support a far greater number of conversations in one fiber, compared to electric signals on a single conductor, demonstrates the high bandwidth capacity of fiber optics. Lastly, reduced crosstalk ensures that optical signals in one fiber do not interfere with those in adjacent fibers, maintaining the quality of communication.