This article reviews loss components of standard transmission silica optical fibers and their connections to glass structure and manufacturing parameters. Loss-reduction possibilities are described. In particular, the Rayleigh scattering component, which is the main contributor to fiber losses within the transmission window, can be significantly reduced by lowering the fictive temperature (the temperature at which the liquid structure is “frozen” during cooling) and tuning the glass composition. The issue of a compromise between manufacturing productivity and minimization of excess loss is also addressed.
