Single Mode fibers are identified by the designation OS or Optical Single-mode Fiber. Single Mode cable has a much smaller core (8-9um) than multimode cable and uses a single path (mode) to carry the light. Although they can do the same job in some instances, the different construction methods make each of them better suited to certain tasks and budgets. That makes picking between single mode and multimode fiber optic cables an. Single mode fiber optic cable is made up of a small diameter glass or plastic core surrounded by cladding, which is a layer of reflective material. This small diameter core, typically around 9 microns in diameter, allows only one mode of light to pass through, resulting in a narrower beam of light. Two of the most common cable types you'll hear about when implementing a fiber network are single mode and multimode fiber. But not all fiber cables are created equal: multimode (MM) and single mode (SM) fibers are the two primary types. Although single mode fiber (SMF) and multimode fiber (MMF) optic cable types are widely used in diverse applications, the differences between single mode fiber and multimode fiber optic cables are still confusing.
