What is a likely result of excessive microbending in optical fibers?

Excessive microbending in optical fibers refers to small, localized bends and imperfections in the fiber that can distort the light traveling through them. When these microbends occur, they interfere with the propagation of the optical signal, leading to inconsistencies in how the light is transmitted through the fiber. This distortion can result in a range of issues, such as reduced clarity and increased noise in the signal, ultimately compromising the quality of the data being transmitted.

In contrast, options related to increased signal strength, reduced transmission loss, or improved bandwidth do not accurately reflect the impact of microbending. These other outcomes typically represent improved performance characteristics that are not achievable when excessive microbending is present. As such, recognizing that microbending primarily leads to signal distortion helps in understanding the overall effects of fiber optics in communication systems.