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What is the difference between single mode and multimode fiber?

Single-mode fiber optic cable and multimode fiber optic cable are two common types of fiber optic cable, and they have certain differences in application, structure, price and market trend.

1. Application
Single-mode optical cables and multimode optical fibers are mainly used in different fields and scenarios. Multimode fiber is mainly suitable for short-distance, high-speed, and low-cost data transmission scenarios, such as local area networks, data centers, and short-distance transmission. The single-mode optical cable is suitable for long-distance, high-speed, high-bandwidth data transmission scenarios, such as wide area networks, long-distance transmission and wireless base stations.

2. Structure
The structure of single mode fiber optic cable and multimode fiber is also different. The diameter of the glass core of the multimode fiber is usually 50~62.5μm, and the outer diameter is about 125μm. The light is transmitted along different paths, resulting in different signal transmission times. Therefore, the transmission distance of the multimode fiber is relatively short, but the transmission speed is fast. The diameter of the glass core of the single-mode optical cable is usually about 9 μm, and the outer diameter is about 125 μm. Since there is only one transmission path, the transmission distance of the single-mode optical cable is relatively long, but the transmission speed is relatively slow.

3. Price
In terms of price, the price of single-mode optical fiber is higher than that of multi-mode optical fiber. This is due to the complex manufacturing process of single-mode optical cables, which requires higher precision and higher material quality. The manufacturing process of multimode fiber is relatively simple, so the price is relatively low.

4. Market trends
As the amount of data transmission continues to increase, more and more applications require higher speed and longer distance transmission. Therefore, the market demand is shifting from multimode optical fiber to single-mode optical fiber cable, especially in the field of long-distance transmission. In addition, because single-mode optical cables can meet higher bandwidth and longer transmission distances, they are also increasingly used in high-speed interconnection and large data centers.

To sum up, single-mode optical cable and multimode optical fiber have obvious differences in application, structure, price and market trend. Choosing the right type of optical cable needs to be based on specific needs and scenarios, and comprehensively consider multiple factors such as transmission distance, transmission speed, and bandwidth.


Post time: Apr-12-2023