5/29/2021 Multimode Fiber Types: OM1 vs OM2 vs OM3 vs OM4 vs OM5 | FS Community

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Multimode Fiber Types: OM1 vs OM2 vs OM3 vs OM4 vs

OM5

John
May 7, 2013

Multimode fiber is a common choice to achieve 10 Gbit/s speed over distances required by LAN enterprise
and data center applications. There are several kinds of multimode fiber types available for high-speed
network installations, and each with a different reach and data-rate capability. With so many options, it can
be tough to select the most suitable multimode fiber. OM1 vs OM2 vs OM3 vs OM4 vs OM5, which to
choose? You may get answer in this article.

What Is Multimode Fiber?

Multimode fiber (MMF) is a kind of optical fiber mostly used in communication over short distances, for
example, inside a building or for the campus. Multimode fiber optic cable has a larger core, typically 50 or
62.5 microns that enables multiple light modes to be propagated. Because of this, more data can pass
through the multimode fiber core at a given time. The maximum transmission distance for MMF cable is

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around 550m at the speed of 10Git/s. It can transmit farther at lower data rates, such as going about 2km at
100Mb/s.

How Many Types of Multimode Fiber?

Identified by ISO 11801 standard, multimode fiber optic cables can be classified into OM1 fiber, OM2 fiber,
OM3 fiber, OM4 fiber and newly released OM5 fiber. The next part will compare these fibers from the side of
core size, bandwidth, data rate, distance, color and optical source in details.

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OM1 Fiber
OM1 fiber typically comes with an orange jacket and have a core size of 62.5 µm. It can support 10 Gigabit
Ethernet at lengths of up to 33 meters. It is most commonly used for 100 Megabit Ethernet applications. This
type commonly uses a LED light source.

OM2 Fiber
Likewise, OM2 fiber also comes with an orange jacket and uses a LED light source but with a smaller core
size of 50 µm. It supports up to 10 Gigabit Ethernet at lengths up to 82 meters but is more commonly used
for 1 Gigabit Ethernet applications.
OM3 Fiber
OM3 fiber comes with an aqua color jacket. Like the OM2, its core size is 50 µm, but the cable is optimized
for laser based equipment. OM3 supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet at lengths up to 300 meters. Besides, OM3 is
able to support 40 Gigabit and 100 Gigabit Ethernet up to 100 meters, however, 10 Gigabit Ethernet is most
commonly used.

OM4 Fiber
OM4 fiber is completely backwards compatible with OM3 fiber and shares the same distinctive aqua jacket.
OM4 was developed specifically for VSCEL laser transmission and allows 10 Gig/s link distances of up to

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550m compared to 300M with OM3. And it’s able to run 40/100GB up to 150 meters utilizing a MPO
connector.
OM5 Fiber
OM5 fiber, also known as WBMMF (wideband multimode fiber), is the newest type of multimode fiber, and it
is backwards compatible with OM4. It has the same core size as OM2, OM3, and OM4. The color of OM5 fiber
jacket was chosen as lime green. It is designed and specified to support at least four WDM channels at a
minimum speed of 28Gbps per channel through the 850-953 nm window. More details can be found at:
Three Critical Focuses on OM5 Fiber Optic Cable

OM1 vs OM2 vs OM3 vs OM4 vs OM5: What’s the Difference?

The prime distinction between multimode fibers rests on physical difference. Accordingly, physical difference
leads to different transmission data rate and distance. Watch the following video to learn the differences
between OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4 & OM5 multimode fibers.

Differences Between OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4 & OM5 Multimode Fibers | FS

Physical Difference
Physical difference mainly lies in diameter, jacket color, optical source and bandwidth, which is described in
the following table.

MMF Cable Type Diameter Jacket Color Optical Source Ban

OM1 62.5/125µm Orange LED 200

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OM2 50/125µm Orange LED 500

OM3 50/125µm Aqua VSCEL 2000

OM4 50/125µm Aqua VSCEL 4700

OM5 50/125µm Lime Green VSCEL 2800

Practical Difference
Multimode fibers are able to transmit different distance ranges at various data rate. You can choose the
most suited one according to your actual application. The max multimode fiber distance comparison at
different data rate is specified below.

MMF Category Fast Ethernet 1GbE 10GbE 40GbE

OM1 2000m 275m 33m /

OM2 2000m 550m 82m /

OM3 2000m / 300m 100m

OM4 2000m / 550m 150m

OM5 / / 550m 150m

What’s the Differences Between Single Mode and Multimode Fiber?

Technical difference
Core Diameter—Single mode fiber has a small diametral core(8.3 to 10 microns) that allows only one mode
of light to propagate. Multimode fiber optic cable has a large diametral core(50 to 100 microns) that allows
multiple modes of light to propagate.

Light Source—Multimode devices usually use a LED or laser as a light source. While single
mode devices use a laser, or laser diode, to produce light injected into the cable.
Practical Difference
Distance—Light travels a longer distance inside single mode cable than it does inside multimode. So
multimode fiber is suitable for short haul application, allowing transmission distances of up to about 550m
at 10Git/s. When distance is beyond 550m, single mode fiber is preferred.

Price—Multimode fiber usually cost less than single mode fiber.

Bandwidth—The bandwidth of single-mode is higher than multimode as much as 100,000 GHz.

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Know more infro about single mode vs multimode fiber here: Single-mode Cabling Cost vs. Multimode
Cabling Cost

Multimode Fiber Connectors Types

There are many multimode fiber connector types in circulation such as ST, SC, FC, LC, MU, E2000, MTRJ, SMA,
DIN as well as MTP & MPO etc. The most commonly used fiber optic connector types include ST, SC, FC and
LC. Each one has its own advantages, disadvantages, and capabilities. So what are the differences and what
do they mean to your implementation? This table of common multimode fiber connectors gives an overview
of strengths and weaknesses. Get more details about commonly used fiber optic connectors here: Fiber
Optic Connector Types, Market, & Installation

MMF Typical Insertion

Ferrule Size Cost(FS.COM) Application Featu
Connector Loss (dB)

Mainstream, reliable, fast

SC φ2.5mm ceramic 0.25-0.5 US$ 0.65
filed fit

LC φ1.25mm ceramic 0.25-0.5 US$ 0.78 High density, cost-effect

High precision, vibration e

FC φ2.5mm ceramic 0.25-0.5 US$ 0.74
field fit

ST φ2.5mm ceramic 0.25-0.5 US$ 0.61 Military, filed fi

What’s The Advantages of Multimode Fiber?

Although single mode fiber patch cable is advantageous in terms of bandwidth and reach for longer
distances, multimode fiber easily supports most distances required for enterprise and data center networks
at a cost dramatically less than single mode fiber. Besides, multimode fiber optic cable still has many
significant advantages.
Multi-user Framework Without Loss Interference
Multimode fiber features carrying multiple signals at the same time in the same line. Most importantly, the
total power inside the signals carries almost no loss. Therefore, the network user can send more than one
packet in the cable at the same time, and all information will be delivered to their destination with out any
interference and keep unchanged.
Support of Multiple Protocols
Multimode fiber can support many data transfer protocol, including Ethernet, Infiniband, and Internet
protocols. Therefore, one can use the cable as the back bone of a series of high value applications.
Cost-effective

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With a larger fiber core and good alignment tolerances, multimode fiber and components are less expensive
and are easier to work with other optical components like fiber connector and fiber adapter, and multimode
patch cords are less expensive to operate, install and maintain than single mode fiber cables.

Conclusion
Due to its high capacity and reliability, multimode fiber is usually used for backbone applications in buildings.
In general, mmf cable continues to be the most cost-effective choice for enterprise and data center
applications up to the 500-600 meter range. But it’s not to say that we can substitute single mode fiber with
multimode fiber cable, as for whether to choose a single mode fiber patch cord or multimode patch cord, it
all depends on applications that you need, transmission distance to be covered as well as the overall budget
allowed.
Related Article: Single Mode Fiber: How Much Do You Know?

 Multimode Fiber  OM4 Fiber  OM5 Fiber  OM3 Fiber  Buyer's Guide

 51 
87.0k 

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