Fiber optic cables are often perceived as being fragile and prone to breakage, but this is not entirely accurate. It is true that each fiber is very fragile. And without a protective barrier, the risk of breaking is quite high. Fiber breakage can be caused by a variety of factors such as excessive bending or pulling of the cable, physical impact, or improper. Because while they're perceived as the best and safer option in their product line, fiber optic cables still are fragile and can cause data outages when installed or treated incorrectly. Compression or Breakage of Fiber Optic Cable: When fiber optic cables experience uneven stress, such as. Debunked: Fiber optic cables are much more durable than people think.