Fiber optic cables carry light along their length and are made of glass or plastic. They have a core surrounded by a cladding layer, with the core having a higher refractive index to confine light within it. Dial-up connections use existing telephone networks and remain useful for remote areas without broadband access. Modern dial-up modems can theoretically transfer data at 56 kbps but typically achieve speeds between 40-50 kbps, with factors like phone line noise potentially lowering speeds further.