Cable performance specifications to consider when searching for fiber optic cable include wavelength, numerical aperture, maximum attenuation, and bending radius. The wavelengthrefers to the wavelength that the cable wa. Cable performance specifications to consider when searching for fiber optic cable include wavelength, numerical aperture, maximum attenuation, and bending radius. The wavelengthrefers to the wavelength that the cable was designed for. Numerical aperture (NA) is the light-gathering ability of a multimode optical fiber; the maximum angle to the fiber. Fiber optic cables play a very important role in long distance communication such as telephone and Internet lines. These cables are significantly less expensive than copper wires.Fiber optic cables have many important applications. They are used by telecommunication companies to transmit telephone signals, Internet communication, and cable television signals. Fiber optic cables are typically used for long distance communication applications where they can be used to their full transmission capacity and offset the cost of in. There are three components to fiber optic cable: core, cladding, and buffer coating. Image Credit: Utilize Windows The core is the inner part of the fiber. It guides the light and has a higher refractive index than that of the cladding which surrounds the core. This is so the light in the core hits the boundary with the cladding at an angle shallow. Common features for fiber optic cable include polarization maintaining, graded index, and metallized. 1. A polarization maintaining cablehas fiber that maintains the polarization of light that enters it. 2. Metallized fibersare coated with metals for increased temperature resistance, soldering, and harsh environments. An important environmental par.