Single Mode Fiber Optic Cable Applications

• Single-mode fiber optic cable is used to carry light wave transmissions over distances greater than ten miles, such as between cities or counties. Telephone companies frequently use single-mode fiber optic cables to carry signals between company offices to customers' homes and businesses.

Multi-Mode Fiber Optic Cable Applications

• Multi-mode fiber optic cable is used in situations where the signal is transmitted over a distance less than ten miles in length, such as between rooms in a person's home. Multi-mode fiber optic cable is mostly used for a variety of home applications. Some of these uses include setting up home alarm systems, running stereo equipment for home theater systems, etc.

Differences in Cable Diameters

• Single-mode fiber optic cable cable has a smaller core diameter than the multi-mode fiber optic cable, which only allows one light wave transmission through the cable at one time. With a larger diameter core, the multi-mode fiber optic cable cable allows multiple light wave transmissions to be sent though the same cable at the same time. The cable refracts the light sent through it at different angles, which allows multiple signal transmissions to occur simultaneously.