Fiber-optic cabling systems are ubiquitous in data centers because of their superior information-carrying capacity. But not all fiber networks are created equal. Characteristics that determine a fiber network’s ultimate capability include the fiber type (singlemode or multimode), termination style, connector performance, and system architecture/topology among others. This roundtable discussion considers the many factors that affect a fiber infrastructure’s high-speed, low-latency capability. It emphasizes how to match a network’s performance requirements with a fiber system’s ability to meet them.