Material absorption in optical fibers directly impacts the attenuation of the light signal. Attenuation refers to the loss of optical power as light travels through the fiber. The primary absorbers are residual OH+ and dopants in the glass, leading to absorption at specific wavelengths. Scattering is another cause of attenuation, occurring when light collides with atoms in the glass. To mitigate absorption loss, low-absorption coefficient materials like highly purified silica can be used, and reducing impurities, such as OH ions, helps minimize absorption loss in dry fiber.