Which type of optical fiber is best suited for high-speed data transmission over long distances?

Singlemode fiber is best suited for high-speed data transmission over long distances due to its design and characteristics. This type of fiber has a small core diameter, typically around 8 to 10 micrometers, which allows only one mode of light to propagate through the fiber. This minimizes signal dispersion, allowing data to be transmitted over significantly longer distances without loss of quality or signal degradation.

The key advantage of singlemode fiber is its ability to support higher bandwidths over long distances. It can transmit data at very high speeds (such as 10 Gbps, 40 Gbps, and even 100 Gbps or higher) across distances that can reach tens of kilometers, making it ideal for telecommunications and data center applications where long-haul communication is required.

In contrast, multimode fiber, with its larger core (typically 50 or 62.5 micrometers), supports multiple modes of light. This results in modal dispersion, which limits the distance over which data can be transmitted effectively, making it less efficient for high-speed data transmission over long distances.

Plastic optical fiber, while more flexible and easier to install, has higher attenuation than glass fibers and is best suited for short-distance applications like consumer electronics and home networks.

Standard copper cables,