For a clearer comparison, the following sections examine the main differences between single mode and multimode fiber in terms of jacket color, core diameter, light source and wavelength, bandwidth, transmission distance, and cost. There are two main types of fiber optic cables: single mode and multimode. 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. From the fiber core and core size to. A fiber optic cable (frequently shortened to “fiber cable”) is a specialized transmission medium crafted to carry data as light pulses through ultra-thin strands of glass or plastic known as optical fibers.