Fiber optic cable can be run anywhere from 300 meters up to 80 kilometers (roughly 50 miles) depending on the cable type, transceiver used, and network standard. Fiber optic cable transmission distance is determined by two primary physical factors that affect signal quality as light travels through the fiber medium. Key. For instance, without amplifiers, single-mode fiber can reach 50-60 miles and can support data rates of 1 Gbps or 10 Gbps.