POF used for transmissions is of a much larger diameter than other fiber. Most POF being used has a fiber diameter of 1000µm, with a core diameter of 980µm. Due to this large diameter, transmission is possible even if the ends of the fiber are slightly soiled or damaged, or if the light axis is slightly off center. Therefore, parts such as optical connectors can be made inexpensively and installation work is simplified.

POF is strong and very difficult to bend. There is only a small loss even when bent to a 25mm radius. Therefore, it can be installed within walls or other narrow areas. It is also suitable for lighting in tight locations.

Installation work is extremely simple. There are several methods, but the one common for transmission is the Hot Plate method. In this method, it takes advantage of the fact that the material used is plastic, so that fiber ends are heated and softened, then pushed against a mirrored surface. The process is quick and can be repeated with very little deviation. Therefore, installation is simple even for those who have never handled optical fiber.

Normally, a 650nm (red) LED is used as the light source for POF optical transceiver modules. Since this is within the visible light spectrum, it acts as an eye safety feature because the user can easily tell when he/she is in danger of directly viewing the light beam. Also, since 650nm will be the wavelength used for a large number of DVD light sources, we can expect the cost to drop even further.

POF is not suitable for long-distance transmission. compared with quartz fiber, there is a large transmission loss. However home and office applications do not require transmission over great distances, having a need for ease-of-use, low cost, and stability instead. POF is best suited for use in these environments.

Since POF is strong against vibration and bending, in addition to its conventional uses in high-speed trains and automobiles it has also recently been applied to car networks inside the vehicle due to an increasing multimedia demand from drivers.