Which type of fiber optic cable is designed for short distances?

Multi-mode fiber is specifically designed for short-distance communication. It allows multiple light modes to propagate through the fiber simultaneously, leading to higher bandwidth capacity over short distances. This type of fiber optic cable is typically used in environments such as data centers and local area networks (LANs), where signals do not need to travel long distances.

The design of multi-mode fibers, with a larger core diameter compared to single-mode fibers, facilitates the use of lower-cost light sources like LEDs, making it an economical choice for short-range applications. Given these characteristics, multi-mode fiber excels in scenarios where the cable runs are relatively short, allowing for effective data transmission without significant signal loss or distortion.

In contrast, single-mode fiber is designed for long-distance transmission, as it carries light directly down the fiber without much reflection, reducing signal loss over long distances. This makes it unsuitable for short-distance applications where the benefits of single-mode’s capabilities for distance and clarity in transmission are not necessary.