What is a key characteristic of single-mode fiber cable?

Single-mode fiber cable is designed with a smaller core diameter, typically around 8 to 10 microns, which allows it to transmit only one mode of light. This design significantly reduces modal dispersion, a phenomenon that occurs when multiple light modes travel at different speeds, causing signal degradation over longer distances. Since single-mode fiber allows only a single path for the light to travel, it is able to maintain signal integrity over much greater distances compared to multi-mode fiber, which supports multiple modes of light propagation.

The ability to transmit signals over long distances without significant loss makes single-mode fiber an ideal choice for telecommunication networks and other applications requiring high bandwidth and distance. Therefore, the characteristic of having a smaller core diameter and supporting only one mode of light propagation is critical to its function and advantage in long-distance data transmission.