Transmission medium and methods for use therewith

A cable, comprising:

• a cover;
• a core;
• a plurality of strips of cladding disposed on the core, wherein a first dielectric constant of the core exceeds a second dielectric constant of each strip of cladding of the plurality of strips of cladding;
• and
• a coupler that facilitates inducing electromagnetic waves that propagate along the core, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate along the core without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic waves have electric fields confined substantially below an external surface of the cover.

A cable, comprising:

• a plurality of cores;
• a plurality of covers, wherein each one of the plurality of covers surrounds a respective one of the plurality of cores;
• a plurality of strips of cladding disposed on each core of the plurality of cores, wherein a first dielectric constant of each core of the plurality of cores exceeds a second dielectric constant of each strip of cladding of the plurality of strips of cladding;
• and
• a coupler that facilitates inducing propagation of a first plurality of electromagnetic waves along each core of the plurality of cores, wherein the first plurality of electromagnetic waves propagates along each core of the plurality of cores without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the first plurality of electromagnetic waves has electric fields confined substantially below an external surface of each of the plurality of covers.