A single-mode optical fiber has a cut-off wavelength of 1260 nm or less, a zero-dispersion wavelength in the range of 1300 nm to 1324 nm, a zero-dispersion slope of 0.093 ps/nm.sup.2/km or less, a mode field diameter at a wavelength of 1310 nm in the range of 5.5 .mu.m to 7.9 .mu.m, and a bending loss of 0.5 dB or less at a wavelength of 1550 nm, the bending loss being produced when the fiber is wound around a 10-mm radius for 10 turns.