OTDR testing creates a snapshot of a fiber optic cable. A 2025 Fluke Networks field survey found that 47% of OTDR traces accepted on-site were later flagged as invalid during third-party audit -- almost. Fiber optic cable is a type of cabling that contains one or more optical fibers for transmitting data at high speeds and/or over long distances using light. These fibers are most commonly made of glass and are very thin, typically less than a tenth of the width of a human hair. Fiber optic cable. Fiber optic networks are the backbone of modern telecommunications, providing high-speed data transmission over long distances with minimal loss.