The attenuation coefficient, often denoted by the symbol α, is a measure of the rate at which the optical signal power decreases per unit distance as it travels through the fiber. It is a fundamental property of the optical fiber material and is influenced by factors such as absorption, scattering, and bending losses. It is measured in dB/m or dB/km. dB/m stands for decibels per meter and dB/km stands for decibel per kilometer.

The conversion formula is given by,