Which statement describes the distance limits of fiber relative to copper?

Which statement describes the distance limits of fiber relative to copper?

• A. Fiber has the same distance limits as copper
• B. Copper has no distance limit
• C. Fiber is not subject to the same distance limits as copper
• D. Copper distance limits are higher than fiber's

Answer: (C)

Distance limits reflect how the signal travels and how much loss it can tolerate. Copper carries electrical signals that are limited by resistance, capacitance, and susceptibility to electromagnetic interference, so Ethernet copper runs are practically capped around 100 meters between endpoints for reliable performance. Fiber, on the other hand, carries light and suffers far less attenuation and almost no EMI impact, so its runs can extend much farther. The actual distance depends on the fiber type and the transceivers used: single-mode fiber can span kilometers, while multimode fiber supports long distances short of those, well beyond copper’s practical limit. Because of these fundamental differences in transmission, fiber is not subject to the same distance limits as copper.

Distance limits reflect how the signal travels and how much loss it can tolerate. Copper carries electrical signals that are limited by resistance, capacitance, and susceptibility to electromagnetic interference, so Ethernet copper runs are practically capped around 100 meters between endpoints for reliable performance. Fiber, on the other hand, carries light and suffers far less attenuation and almost no EMI impact, so its runs can extend much farther. The actual distance depends on the fiber type and the transceivers used: single-mode fiber can span kilometers, while multimode fiber supports long distances short of those, well beyond copper’s practical limit. Because of these fundamental differences in transmission, fiber is not subject to the same distance limits as copper.