What is the typical attenuation value for single-mode fiber?

The typical attenuation value for single-mode fiber is approximately 0.2 dB/km. This characteristic signifies how much signal strength diminishes over distance, which is crucial for fiber optic installations, as it impacts the maximum distance data can travel without requiring amplification.

Single-mode fibers are designed with a small core diameter, which allows only one mode of light to propagate. This design results in lower modal dispersion and therefore, generally, lower attenuation compared to multimode fibers. The value of approximately 0.2 dB/km indicates efficient transmission over long distances, making single-mode fiber ideal for applications that require minimal loss, such as telecommunications and high-speed internet services.

In contrast, options with higher attenuation values do not reflect the performance of typical single-mode fibers and would be more characteristic of multimode fibers or less advanced fiber technologies. The lower the attenuation, the longer the distance over which the signal can be transmitted effectively, which is why the specified value is important in the context of fiber optic communication.