Advantages and disadvantages of single mode fiber optic cable

Single-mode fiber-optic cables are fiber-optic cables used for long-distance data transmission. In single-mode fiber optic cables, data transmission is handled by a single strand of glass fiber. Unlike multimode fiber optic cables, multimode fiber optic cables use multiple strands of glass.

Single-mode fiber optic cables consist of the following components:

1. Core

The core is located in the central part. It's the part that guides the light. Single-mode optical cables generally use a core of 8.3 microns to 10 microns.

2. Cladding

The cladding is the part that surrounds the core. Both are made of fused silica glass. The refractive index of the cladding is always kept lower than that of the core. This difference between the indices of refraction keeps light trapped inside the core.

3. Buffer layer

Buffer layers are specially designed layers of material that protect the cladding and cable from physical damage. In addition, the buffer layer prevents microbending of the fiber bundle due to scattering losses.

4. Sheath

The outer layer of the cable is called the jacket. Fiber optic cable jackets protect sensitive internal components from the external environment. In addition to this, information about the type of fiber optic cable is printed on the jacket. Single-mode fiber optic cables typically have a yellow jacket.

Single-mode fiber optic cables are designed with a smaller diameter core that allows only one mode of light to propagate. This phenomenon helps minimize internal light reflections, thereby reducing attenuation. Therefore, single-mode fiber optic cables can transmit signals over long distances. Typically, single-mode fiber optic cables are used in the construction of large enterprise, telecom, and cable television networks.

Advantages of single-mode fiber optic cable:

Single-mode optical cables support higher transmission rates;

Compared with multi-mode optical cables, the transmission distance of single-mode optical cables is about 50 times longer;

Single-mode fiber optic cables run with minimal attenuation;

Single-mode optical cable is not easy to age;

There are many supporting devices based on the single-mode network.

Disadvantages of single-mode fiber optic cable:

The cost of single-mode optical cable is higher than that of multi-mode optical cable;

A laser signal is required.

Can singlemode fiber optic cables be used with multimode fiber optic cables?

This is not recommended as up to 99% of the total power is wasted when multimode fiber optic cables are connected to singlemode fiber optic cables.