In summary, the basic parameters of the transmission characteristics of optical fiber lines are attenuation, dispersion, and nonlinearity. These cables are used mainly for digital audio connections between devices. A fiber-optic cable, also known as an optical-fiber cable, is an assembly similar to an electrical cable but containing one or more optical fibers that are used to carry light. The optical fiber elements are typically. This guide breaks down the five core components of a fiber optic cable — from the specification package to the actual installation considerations. CHANNEL OR LINK LOSS Channel or link loss is the total path loss or attenuation between the transmitter and receiver is the sum of various loss mechanisms: scattering, microbending.