Even though ESCON channels are fiber-based, the next generation of ESCON was simply called FICON, for fiber connection.

The advent of FICON allowed concurrent sharing of the fiber channel (up to 8 operations at the same time). Other advantages included:

• The maximum channel data rate of 2 Gbps (gigibits per second)
• Up to 10 km for an unrepeated distance
• More device numbers supported