Fiber Optic Connectivity
Plan the wider connection and distribution system.
Trunk · Fanout · Breakout · OS2 / OM3 / OM4
MPO Cable and MTP Assemblies
MPO cable assemblies connect multiple optical fibers through one connector interface. UPCOM's published range includes MTP-to-MTP trunks, MTP-to-LC fanouts and multi-connector breakout assemblies for structured fiber cabling.
Select the assembly by transceiver interface, active fiber count, polarity and end connector configuration. A nominal connector count does not establish compatibility with every 40G or 100G optical interface.
8 / 12 / 24Listed trunk fiber counts
OS2 / OM3 / OM4Published fiber choices
0.9 / 1.8 mmLC fanout options
A / B / CPolarity must be specified
MPO Cable Assembly Configurations
| Assembly | Published configuration | Cable information |
|---|---|---|
| MTP to MTP | 8, 12 or 24 fibers; 12/24-position connector variants | 3.0 mm trunk; 3.6 mm options for 12/24 fibers |
| MTP to 8-fiber LC fanout | 4 × LC duplex / uniboot, or 8 × LC simplex | 3.0 mm trunk; 0.9 or 1.8 mm fanout variants |
| MTP to 12-fiber LC fanout | 6 × LC duplex / uniboot, or 12 × LC simplex | 3.0 mm trunk; 0.9 or 1.8 mm fanout variants |
| MTP to 24-fiber LC fanout | 12 × LC duplex / uniboot, or 24 × LC simplex | 3.0 mm trunk; 0.9 or 1.8 mm fanout variants |
| Multi-connector breakout | Examples include 2 × 8-fiber and 4 × 8-fiber arrangements | Confirm overall trunk and breakout dimensions |
The brochure lists OS2 in yellow, OM3 in turquoise and OM4 in violet. State the required color and jacket separately when preparing the order.
MPO Connectors, Pinning and Polarity
MPO names the multifiber connector format; MTP is a branded implementation of that format. Specify the actual connector component and performance grade in the quotation.
| Selection | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Pinned / unpinned | Male has alignment pins; female is unpinned. Confirm the mating interface at both ends. |
| UPC / APC | Match endface polish to the equipment interface; do not mix APC and UPC mating surfaces. |
| Type A | Straight-through fiber mapping in the published polarity drawings. |
| Type B | Reversed mapping; confirm the drawing for the selected fiber/row arrangement. |
| Type C | Pair-reversed mapping in the 12-fiber arrangement; confirm mapping for other formats. |
| Key position / active fibers | Specify connector keying, populated positions and the complete link architecture. |
Polarity is a property of the complete channel, including trunks, cassettes and patch cords. Verify transmit-to-receive mapping end to end rather than selecting one cable in isolation. See the FOA guide to testing multifiber connectors.
Published MPO and LC Optical Loss Options
The following brochure values refer to connector mating performance, not an unlimited end-to-end channel allowance. Calculate the complete link budget for the selected interfaces, connector count, fiber length and transceiver.
| Connector option | Maximum insertion loss | Published return loss |
|---|---|---|
| MTP Elite, multimode | 0.35 dB | >20 dB |
| MTP Elite, single-mode | 0.35 dB | >60 dB |
| MTP Standard, multimode | 0.60 dB | >20 dB |
| MTP Standard, single-mode | 0.75 dB | >60 dB |
| LC UPC, multimode | 0.35 dB | >35 dB |
| LC UPC, single-mode | 0.35 dB | >50 dB |
Confirm connector grade, polish, test wavelength and acceptance limits in the order. The brochure also identifies single-mode APC options; use their configuration-specific values.
Specify an MPO Cable Assembly
- State the transceiver or cassette interface and required active fibers.
- Select OS2, OM3 or OM4 and connector count at each end.
- Provide pinned/unpinned ends, key position, polish and a polarity drawing.
- Specify overall length, fanout lengths, leg numbering, jacket and pulling arrangement.
- State insertion/return-loss limits, test report, labels, packing and quantity.
MPO Cable FAQ
Are MPO and MTP the same name?
MPO refers to the connector format; MTP is a branded implementation. Confirm the actual components and performance grade rather than relying on the name alone.
Can every 12-fiber cable connect a parallel optical transceiver?
No. Check active positions, pinning, polish and polarity against the transceiver interface. The overall channel must map transmit to receive correctly.
Is the quoted loss the loss of the complete cable channel?
The published table describes connector mating performance. The complete link budget also includes fiber attenuation and every connection in the route.
Which polarity should I order?
Provide the transceiver/cassette interfaces and a link drawing. Type A, B or C must be selected as part of the complete polarity method.