A thin strand of glass or plastic that guides light signals using the principle of total internal reflection. Offers high bandwidth, low signal loss, and immunity to electromagnetic interference.

Cable & Transmission Types

Multimode Fiber

Has a larger core diameter (typically 50 or 62.5 μm), allowing multiple propagation modes simultaneously. Bandwidth is narrower and dispersion greater, making it suitable for short to medium distances — generally within buildings and up to approximately 500m.

Single-Mode Fiber

Has an extremely narrow core (typically 9 μm) that supports only a single propagation mode, resulting in minimal dispersion. Used for long-haul transmission over 1000m and up to 30km (SFP dependent). Commonly deployed in broadcast and telecommunications networks.

SFP Optical Module

*(Small Form-factor Pluggable) *A hot-swappable, compact optical transceiver with a maximum data rate of 10.3 Gbps. Uses LC connectors and consists of a laser transmitter and a photodetector. Widely used in switches, routers, and broadcast equipment.

Connectors

Connectors used to terminate and join fiber optic cables. Common types include:

SC (Square Connector)

A square push-pull fiber connector using a 2.5 mm ceramic ferrule. Developed by NTT; commonly used in CATV, GBIC modules, and single-mode patch cables.

LC (Lucent Connector)

A small-form-factor latching fiber connector using a 1.25 mm ferrule — approximately half the size of an SC connector. Used with high-density modules such as SFP and XFP.

FC (Ferrule Connector)

A round threaded-lock fiber connector using a 2.5 mm ferrule. Developed by NTT in 1988; commonly used in telecommunications equipment and test instruments.

ST (Straight Tip)

A round bayonet-lock fiber connector using a 2.5 mm ferrule. Developed by AT&T in 1988; commonly found in LAN equipment.