A: For most applications, the maximum distance of a single-mode cable is around 160 kilometers. Take the common OM2. Dispersion limits fiber optic transmission distance by causing signal distortion and is classified into chromatic dispersion, modal dispersion, and polarization mode dispersion (PMD). Chromatic dispersion This is a key factor affecting single mode fiber distance. This guide dissects their technical nuances, evolution, and real-world applications. 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.