Fiber optic cable offers a range of benefits for corporate data networking and telecommunications, such as thinner, lighter cables and longer signal range. This comprehensive buying guide will discuss:

What fiber optic cable is
Key features
What you should look for when choosing fiber optic cable
How to find the right kind of fiber optic cable for your network
The different kinds of optical fiber cable available

What Is Fiber Optic Cable?

It is also known as “optical fiber cable,” fiber optic cable relays data in pulses of light through optically pure, flexible glass or plastic fibers. Thanks to its rapid data transmission speeds over extended distances, fiber optic cable have become a frontrunner for Ethernet networking and telecommunications applications.

How Does It Work?

Light pulses reflect off the sides of the fiber optic cable, moving down the core. No power is necessary to transmit a signal, except for the light source. Light pulses can travel for many miles before weakening and needing a boost.

When determining how far a signal will travel, core size is key. A good rule of thumb is that the smaller the core, the farther the light will go before it needs to be regenerated. Single-Mode Fiber (SMF) features a petite core, keeping the path of light narrow and allowing it to travel up to 100 km. Multimode Fiber (MMF) has a larger core that carries more data but is susceptible to signal quality issues over longer distances, making it better suited to short-haul networks and premises cabling.

Fiber Optic Signal Distance

How far a fiber optic cable can carry a signal depends on the wavelength, the type of cable, and the network. For 10 Gbps multimode cable, ranges average about 984 ft, and single mode cable can reach up to 25 miles. Optical repeaters or amplifiers are employed to regenerate and error correct the optical signal if a longer span is needed.

Fiber Optic Vs. Copper Cable

Data Transmission: The speed of light is a hundred times faster than electrical conduction. Copper maxes out at 40 Gbps, while OM5 fiber reaches speeds of 100 Gbps.
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI): Fiber optic cables use light, not electricity, and EMI does not affect them. Copper wires generate an electromagnetic field, which can cause other cables to malfunction.
Distance: Both copper and fiber cables experience signal loss over long distances, but copper suffers much greater attenuation. Fiber only loses an estimated 3% of its signal strength over 100 meters, while copper loses 94%.
Cable Weight: Fiber cables are a tenth the weight and a quarter the copper cables’ diameter, making them much easier to install and optimizing airflow in rack enclosures.
Electrical Isolation: Since fiber optic cables don’t carry electricity, you don’t need to ground the receiver and transmitter, and there isn’t any danger of arcing, electrical shock, heat, or fire.

Fiber Optic Vs. Ethernet Cable

Ethernet cable is often used interchangeably with copper category cable, but Ethernet is the networking protocol devices use to communicate over copper or fiber cable. Network designers may employ either fiber or copper cable, depending on requirements, and may utilize both kinds of cable for different network components. Typically, fiber is used to connect two high-speed devices (like switch to switch) in campus networks and data centers where distance and bandwidth are essential. Sometimes, a network designer can save money utilizing copper cable with similar performance rather than fiber optic cable.

Looking for the latest fiber optic solutions? Work with C&C Technology Group to optimize your network today!

Choosing The Right Fiber Optic Cable

There is a wide range of cable types with different performance characteristics and specific installation requirements. When choosing fiber optic cable for your network, you should begin by listing requirements for:

Network Speed
Cable Jacket
Connectors
Distance

After you’ve narrowed it down, make sure to account for cost and future-proofing. Our experts at C&C Technology Group can help you determine requirements or choose pre-terminated or custom fiber cable.

Network Speed & Distance

Multimode fiber (MMF) used to be the standard for corporate networks and data centers because it was cheaper than single-mode fiber (SMF). Thanks to technological advancements, the cost difference is much more negligible. Rather than comparing single-mode and multimode, consider the distance of the connection and the network speed the overall network design requires. To move a large amount of data over a short distance (i.e, under 300 meters), OM3 MMF may be your best option. Consider SMF if data transmission distance or speed is critical. The cable’s OM rating dictates the MMF range.

Cable Jacket

Local fire codes must be obeyed when installing indoor fiber cabling. Article 77 of the National Electric Code defines fire rating and jacket identification in the U.S. If your cable needs to run through plenum spaces or risers, account for that in the cable jacket rating. Flexibility and strength under tensile load are other cable jacket properties to consider.

Connectors

The ports on your network equipment typically dictate fiber optic cable terminations. If your 10G Ethernet switch features multi-fiber MTP ports, for example, then you need a certain amount of fibers in the cable.

Types Of Fiber Optic Cable

Single Mode Vs. Multimode

Fiber optic cable comes in two “modes”: multimode and single-mode. Mode refers to whether it’s single or multiple pulses of light.

Multimode Fiber (MMF)

MMF comes in two core sizes: 50µm and 62.5µm. The relatively wide core can simultaneously carry multiple streams of data at 850 nm or 1300 nm. Multimode fiber employs a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) or a light-emitting diode (LED) as its source of light. It is generally used to carry a high volume of data over shorter distances due to high attenuation and dispersion rates. Multimode fiber optic cable is designated as 50/125 or 62.5/125, which refers to the core and cladding diameter.

Single-Mode Fiber (SMF): The core size is much smaller for SMF, comprising 8.3µm or 9µm and a single light path that can travel further. SMF utilizes a laser diode that operates in the 1310 and 1550m range. Single-mode is usually employed in longer spans, like cable TV transmission, campus data networks, and telecommunications networks.

Simplex Vs. Duplex

A Simplex cable employs a single strand of fiber with a transmitter (TX) on one end and a receiver (RX) on the other. The cable isn’t reversible and only transmits one way. Simplex cable is commonly used in monitoring applications, where a sensor transmits time-sensitive data back to the central system.

Full-duplex cable has two fibers that transmit and receive data simultaneously and are essentially two simplex cables working in conjunction to handle bidirectional data transfer. The twin connectors on both ends can transmit and receive at the same time. Half-duplex cables can produce two-way communication, but not simultaneously. Duplex cables are commonly used to link network devices in a high-speed network, like storage systems, servers, and switches.

Duplex Zipcord Fiber

Zipcord is a kind of electrical cable with two or more connectors you can pull apart to separate. Duplex zipcord fiber comprises two fibers wrapped by strength members and an outer jacket.

Mode Conditioning Cables

A Mode Conditioning patch cord (MCP) refers to a duplex cable featuring a single-mode to multimode on the transmit (Tx) side and multimode to multimode on the receive (Rx) side. Remember that you cannot mix single-mode and multimode fiber and equipment on the same network. Single-mode fiber (SMF) and multimode fiber (MMF) have different core sizes, so differential mode delay (DMD) occurs when cable types are mixed, causing receiver errors. DMD can be avoided using Mode Conditioning patch cables, which launch the single-mode signal at an offset to the MMF ore center. The “mode conditioning” generates a signal similar to a normal multimode launch.

Active Optical Cables (AOCs)

Active Optical Cables (AOCs) refer to fiber optic cables that have transceivers bonded permanently to either end, removing the need for connectors. AOCs are commonly found in top-of-rack applications for short link distances. The thin cables maintain airflow with high port density.

Multi-Strand Fiber Cables

Like duplex fiber, multi-strand fiber features multiple strands of fiber relaying data in one direction and an equivalent number of strands transferring data in the other direction. Multi-strand fiber is engineered to support data rates above 25G and utilizes an MPO/MTP connector. Multi-strand fiber cables generally combine 12 or 24 fiber strands (known as12F or 24F) in a single jacket. Multi-strand fiber can also be used as a breakout cable with multiple duplex LC connectors on one end and an MPO/MTP connector on the other end.

Loopback Cables

For testing signal transmission and diagnosing problems, engineers use a loopback cable called a loopback adapter or loopback tester. Loopback cables plug into a serial or Ethernet port and relay the transmit line to the receiving line to redirect any outgoing signals back into the testing source.

What You Should Know About Fiber Optic Cable Performance

Optical Return Loss

When a pulse of light hits the fiber core’s end, a certain portion of light reflects toward the source, known as the Optical Return Loss (ORL). ORL is expressed in decibels (dB), only impacts fiber with a laser light source, and can lower data transmission speeds. ORL can affect single-mode fiber and multimode fiber if they have a VCSEL light source. ORL doesn’t impact older multimode fiber with an LED light source.

ORL Vs. Back Reflection

The terms ORL and Back Reflection are used interchangeably but are distinct concepts. ORL refers to all of the power lost from the entire system, including the fiber. Reflected power is only one aspect of ORL. Engineers can minimize ORL by making sure connectors are properly mated, and ferrules are clean. Choosing fiber optic cable with end-faces designed to optimize physical interface can also reduce ORL.

Original fiber connectors used ferrules with a basic flat face with a relatively large area that is easily damaged through repeated mating. Physical Contact (PC) connectors are polished to a slightly rounded surface to cut down on the end face size. Ultra Physical Contact (UPC) connectors have end faces with an even larger radius where the fibers connect at the apex of the curve near the fiber core.

Angled Physical Contact (APC) connector ferrules are cleaved at an angle between 15 and 5 degrees, directing the reflected light out of the core for a smaller ORL value.

Insertion Loss

The total light lost between two fixed points in the fibers known as Insertion Loss and is measured in decibels (dB). Fiber spliced or terminated with a connector can cause Insertion Loss due to dirty ferrules, fiber core misalignment, or poor quality connectors. The total insertion loss of the entire system needs to comply with the installer’s agreed-upon link-loss budget.

Fiber Cable Installation Basics

Minimum Bend Radius

The minimum radius shouldn’t be smaller than 10 times the cable diameter for cables that are not under pulling tension. A multimode cable with an outside diameter of 3.0 mm, for example, should have a minimum bend radius of 30 mm. If the cable is under tensile load, the bend radius may be higher. For further details, look at the cable’s spec sheet.

Maximum Tensile Rating (Pulling Force)

A fiber optic cable may be stressed during installation as it is pulled around bends and through ductwork. Damage can even be caused by pulling a cable from the payoff reel. Cables may also undergo continuous pulling forces after they are installed. A fiber optic cable’s maximum tensile rating is the highest pulling force the cable can stand before damaging its optical properties of fibers. The cable manufacturer generally lists the maximum tensile rating during installation and the maximum tensile rating while in operation.

Here’s How To Get the Best Fiber Optic Cable Price

People and companies want to get the best prices on anything. Who wants to pay more for an item than is necessary? As you can imagine, both people and companies want to get the best fiber optic cable price to decrease costs. However, they also don’t want to sacrifice quality. A laggy or lossy connection is often more costly and frustrating than buying a better cable to begin with, even if that cable costs a little more.

If you’re looking to get the best fiber optic cable price, here are a few helpful tips to make this search much more straightforward!

Get the Best Fiber Optic Cable Price by Identifying Distributors

If you’re looking to get the best fiber optic cable price, you’ll first need to identify all the distributors that sell them. As you might imagine, some distributors are a little bit more pricey than others. Here are four of the top distributors that tend to have quite reasonable prices! There are others, of course, but these are some of the top ones.

Anixter

Anixter is one of the leading suppliers of communications hardware. They not only have fiber optic cables, but they also have patch cords, inserts, splices, adapters, and enclosures. In short, pretty much anything related to fiber-optic connectivity you can find here!

If you’re looking for the best fiber optic cable price, Anixter is an excellent place to start. They typically have fantastic pricing.

Graybar

Graybar is technically an electrical supply store, but they also have telecommunications products. There are networking enclosures and, of course, fiber optic cables. Like the previous supplier, Graybar doesn’t only sell cabling. They sell jacks, outlets, patch cables, closures, and more for all forms of communication, not just fiber-optic!

Graybar’s selection makes it a worthy place to investigate when looking for the best pricing!

Accu-Tech

Like the other suppliers on this list, Accu-Tech sells many networking components, including fiber optic cables. They have numerous locations across multiple states, so there’s a good chance that you will have a branch near you.

As to be expected, Accu-Tech’s selection and pricing are typically excellent, so it should be a place you look at when you want this type of cabling.

Wesco

Finally, you should check out Wesco when looking for these cables. They have electrical and automation components, as well as data communications and cabling. As you can likely guess, they have fiber optic cables too. They also have branches across multiple states, so you should be able to find one close to you!

Wesco’s selection and pricing are also excellent, so you should look for these cables here too!

Understand the Quality and Performance You Need

Not all fiber cabling is the same. Some cables are naturally of better quality and offer higher performance than others. As you might imagine, the higher-quality lines can sometimes be a little pricier.

Lousy fiber optic cables can have data loss. Unlike coaxial cables, fiber connections either work, or they don’t. Since it is a digital signal, either the light or laser arrives at its destination, or it doesn’t. But that still leaves the possibility that the cabling could have issues inside that may cause data loss (or, at a bare minimum, require the client to run some error-correcting logic and need to request the data again).

If you are looking for short-distance cables, quality tends to matter a little less. There’s less that can go wrong with these cables since the data only needs to travel for a short distance. However, if you want to connect thousands of feet with fiber optic cables, you’ll need a more robust solution. You’ll likely need cables that can withstand all the twists, turns, and elements they might encounter and still deliver a high-quality signal.

The type of cabling and how many cables you buy will also change depending on what speeds you need. Lines that can deliver 10 Gbps need to be much more durable and robust than ones that provide 1 Gbps.

All in all, ensure that you buy a suitable cable for the job. If you’re unsure of the cabling you need or the brands you need, you can discuss your desired outcome with a C&C Technology Group support staff member. They will recommend a cable that will work for you!

Get the Best Fiber Optic Cable Price by Buying in Bulk

Another way to save money is to buy cables in bulk. Typically, suppliers can give excellent discounts for bulk purchases!

It’s worth noting that most of the suppliers mentioned above have branch offices. If you want to secure a discount (and you can buy in bulk), consider phoning up your local branch and seeing what options there are for buying in bulk. The branch managers can often help put together a custom offer that will give you the best pricing.

Even if you don’t use all the fiber optic cable for your current job, if you know you will use it in the future, it may make sense to take advantage of some manufacturer discounts and bulk pricing now, so that way you’ll not only save on this job but other jobs after!

Shop Around To Get the Best Fiber Optic Cable Price

You can find the best fiber optic cable price by taking a little bit of time to shop around. Usually, one supplier will have special manufacturer incentives that all the other suppliers won’t. Once you find that particular supplier, you can save significant money on these cables! The best part is that you won’t have to sacrifice quality if you look carefully!

Fiber optic cables can, unfortunately, be a little pricey. By considering the steps above (and checking with the suppliers mentioned), you should get the best prices. Additionally, if you can buy in bulk, that will help you save even more money – for this job and others, potentially.

There are numerous options to save some money and make your next cabling project a little easier and less costly! It’s a win-win situation all around!

Consult With C&C Technology Group For Your Fiber Optic Needs

C&C Technology Group is a top infrastructure and advisory firm dedicated to optimizing your business. Work with C&C Technology Group for your fiber optic cabling solutions today!
Looking for the latest fiber optic solutions? Work with C&C Technology Group to optimize your network today!

Last Updated on August 2, 2022 by Josh Mahan