What does attenuation primarily affect in fiber optics?

Attenuation primarily affects signal strength in fiber optics. This term refers to the loss of signal power as it travels through the optical fiber. When light signals are transmitted over distances, certain factors such as absorption, scattering, and bending can cause the light intensity to diminish. This reduction in signal strength can impact the ability to transmit data effectively, leading to lower performance or loss of the signal altogether at longer distances.

Understanding attenuation is essential for designing fiber optic networks, as it influences the selection of fiber types, the length of cable runs, and the need for amplifiers or repeaters to maintain signal quality over longer distances. While attenuation does not directly affect the speed of the signal, which travels close to the speed of light in the fiber, it can influence the overall performance and reliability of data transmission.