An optical waveguide fiber comprises: (a) a core with a refractive index profile having, a radius, an alpha and a relative refractive index characterized by delta % that varies along the radius; (b) at least one cladding surrounding the core; wherein the alpha is less than 2.5, peak refractive index delta % is between 0.34% and 0.4%, the relative refractive index is less than 0.01% for all radii greater than 7 .mu.m, and this optical waveguide fiber has a mode field diameter MFD at a wavelength of 1310 nm of no more than 9.54 .mu.m, and attenuation less than: (a) 0.329 dB/km at a wavelength of 1310 nm, (b) 0.290 dB/km at a wavelength of 1383 nm, (c) 0.255 dB/km at a wavelength of 1410 nm, and (d) 0.189 dB/km at a wavelength of 1550 nm.