A method of determining a mean square differential group delay associated with a length of optical fiber. The method including measuring a polarization mode dispersion vector as a function of frequency, using a frequency-domain polarization mode dispersion measurement apparatus. The method also including calculating a second-order polarization mode dispersion vector as a function of frequency by calculating a derivative of the polarization mode dispersion vector with respect to frequency. Also, calculating the mean of the magnitude of the second-order polarization mode dispersion vector to obtain a first result. Further, multiplying a proportionality coefficient by the first result to calculate the mean square differential group delay.