A well-installed single-mode fiber can transmit data up to 40 miles without any repeater or amplifier. In large-scale systems, such as undersea communication lines, amplifiers are added to extend this even further. The clear answer to How Far Can Fiber Optic Cable Run depends on the cable type and setup. The. Fiber optic cable transmission distance is determined by two primary physical factors that affect signal quality as light travels through the fiber medium. Unlike traditional copper cables, which can only transmit data a few hundred feet before the signal deteriorates, fiber optics can stretch several kilometers, or even miles!With ideal conditions and amplification, optical fiber can transmit petabit speeds globally, but real-world limits depend on fiber type and network design.