Multimode fiber: OM1 vs OM2 vs OM3 vs OM4
“OM” stands for optical multi-mode, a standard for multimode fiber to indicate the level of fiber. The bandwidth and maximum distance of different
Comparison of Multimode Fiber Optic Parameters
Multimode fibers OM1 through OM5 differ in core size, bandwidth, transmission distance, light source compatibility, and applications, with newer types optimized for higher-speed, short-range data center networks.Core Size and Jacket ColorOM1: 62.5/125 µm core-cladding, orange jacketOM2: 50/125 µm core-cladding, orange jacketOM3: 50/125 µm, laser-optimized, aqua jacketOM4: 50/125 µm, enhanced laser-optimized, aqua jacketOM5: 50/125 µm, wideband multimode, lime green jacket, supports multiple wavelengths for SWDM Bandwidth and Modal DispersionOM1: 200 MHz·km at 850 nm, 500 MHz·km at 1300 nmOM2: 500 MHz·km at 850 nm, 500 MHz·km at 1300 nmOM3: 2000 MHz·km at 850 nm (laser-optimized)OM4: 4700 MHz·km at 850 nmOM5: 4700 MHz·km at 850 nm, 2470 MHz·km at 953 nm, optimized for short-wavelength division multiplexing (SWDM), Maximum Transmission Distance (Typical Ethernet Applications)OM1: 10 Gb/s up to 33 m, 1 Gb/s up to 300 mOM2: 10 Gb/s up to 82 m, 1 Gb/s up to 600 mOM3: 10 Gb/s up to 300 m, 40/100 Gb/s up to 100 mOM4: 10 Gb/s up to 550 m, 40/100 Gb/s up to 150 mOM5: Similar to OM4 for standard 1G–100G, but supports multi-wavelength SWDM for 40/100/400 Gb/s over short distances Light Source CompatibilityOM1 & OM2: LED light sourcesOM3, OM4, OM5: VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser) optimized, supporting higher-speed Ethernet and data center applications ApplicationsOM1 & OM2: Legacy enterprise LANs, short-distance building connectionsOM3 & OM4: Modern data centers, high-speed Ethernet, Fibre ChannelOM5: Advanced data centers requiring SWDM, supporting multiple wavelengths on a single fiber for 40G, 100G, and 400G Ethernet SummaryMultimode fibers are ideal for short-range, high-speed networking due to their larger core diameters, which allow multiple light modes to propagate. OM1 and OM2 are older standards with lower bandwidth and shorter distances, while OM3 and OM4 are laser-optimized for higher data rates. OM5 introduces wideband capabilities for multi-wavelength transmission, enabling future-proofing for high-speed, short-distance data center networks .
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Multimode Fiber: OM1 vs OM2 vs OM3 vs OM4 vs OM5 Comparison
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Multimode Fiber Differences: OM1 vs OM2 vs OM3 vs OM4 vs OM5
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Multimode Fiber Types: OM1 vs OM2 vs OM3 vs OM4 vs OM5
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