At which wavelength does optical fiber have the lowest attenuation?

Optical fiber exhibits the lowest attenuation at a wavelength of 1550 nm. This range is particularly significant for long-distance telecommunications because lower attenuation means that signals can travel further without needing to be regenerated or amplified.

At 1550 nm, the intrinsic losses of the fiber material itself, especially in standard single-mode fibers, are minimized, allowing for a higher quality signal over extensive distances. This characteristic is critical for applications in modern networking infrastructure, where long-distance data transmission is essential.

While attenuation also decreases around 1300 nm, the 1550 nm wavelength offers even lower losses, making it the preferred choice for long-haul fiber optic networks. This preference is also due to the availability of low-loss optical amplifiers, which operate effectively at this wavelength, supporting longer transmission spans without significant signal degradation.

Therefore, 1550 nm is recognized in the industry as the optimal wavelength for minimizing attenuation, crucial for ensuring efficient and reliable data transmission in fiber optic systems.