In a nutshell, attenuation is the loss of transmission signal strength measured in decibels (dB). As attenuation increases, the more distorted and unintelligible the transmission (e.g. a phone call or email you’re trying to send) becomes.
To combat the distortion, networks send multiple repeat signals to ensure at least one successfully reaches its destination. The main side effect of this is a reduction in total speed available due to those extra signals being sent.
Causes of attenuation:
Noise. Extra noise on networks, like radio frequencies, electrical currents, and wire leakage, may interfere with the signal and cause attenuation. The more noise you have, the more attenuation you experience.
Physical surroundings. Physical surroundings like temperature, wall barriers, and improper wire installation may distort the transmission and cause attenuation.
Travel distance. The further a transmission has to travel from its current location (e.g. your home or workplace) to its Central Office (C/O; the location of your connection provider), the more noise it experiences along the way
