The two types of fiber are multimode and singlemode. Within these categories, fibers are identified by their core composition (MM step-index or graded-index) and core/cladding diameters expressed in microns (one millionth of a meter), e. 50/125 micron graded-index multimode. In fiber-optic communication, a single-mode optical fiber, also known as fundamental- or mono-mode, is an optical fiber designed to carry only a single mode of light - the transverse mode. While they may look similar from the outside, they differ significantly in core size, transmission behavior, distance capability, bandwidth potential, equipment requirements, and overall cost. TOSLINK – Optical Audio. Singlemode (SM) and multimode (MM) fiber optic cables are two core fiber types distinguished by core diameter, light propagation mode structure, attenuation performance, and transmission distance. The core is surrounded by a optical material called the "cladding" that traps the. Whether you are expanding a data center, upgrading an enterprise LAN, or building long-distance backbone connections, choosing between single mode fiber (SMF) and multimode fiber (MMF) is one of the most important design decisions.