In today’s fast-growing communication field, fiber optic patch cords play a vital role as an important part of data transmission. However, many people may have misjudgments when it comes to the choice of MPO and MTP fiber patch cords. To give you a better understanding of the differences between the two, the following article will explore the differences between MPO and MTP fiber patch cords in detail.
What is MPO Cable?
MPO (Multi-Fiber Push On) fiber patch cord is a type of fiber optic cable that uses an MPO connector. MPO connectors have multiple fiber cores, and each fiber core can transmit data or signals. These cores are typically color-coded for identification during installation and maintenance.
MPO fiber optic patch cords are mainly used for high-speed data transmission and connectivity needs in fiber optic communication systems, such as data centers, computer networks, and communication operators. They are widely used in 10G, 40G, and 100G Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and other high-capacity fiber optic systems.
Compared with traditional single-mode or multi-mode fiber patch cords, MPO fiber patch cords have higher density and faster connection speeds. They enable high-density connectivity by integrating multiple fiber cores into a small MPO connector and can transmit data from multiple Fibre Channels simultaneously. This design gives MPO fiber patch cords an advantage in terms of space savings and simplified wiring.
What is MTP® Cable?
MTP® cable is an abbreviation for (Multi-Fiber Pull Off). It is a type of fiber optic cable that uses MTP connectors. MTP connectors are similar to MPO connectors in that they also have multiple fiber cores. It is used for high-speed data transmission and connectivity needs in fiber optic communication systems.
MTP fiber patch cords are mainly used for high-density fiber connection applications. Examples include data centers, computer networks, and telecommunications operators. They can support 10G, 40G, 100G Ethernet, and other high-capacity fiber optic systems for fast and reliable data transmission.
Compared to MPO, MTP connectors have been improved in design, resulting in lower insertion loss and higher performance. In addition, the MTP connector introduces new features such as a covered protective sleeve and a pluggable design to improve the stability and convenience of the connection.
Differences: MTP vs MPO
Design and Construction:
MPO connectors typically have 24 fiber cores, while MTP connectors can have 12, 24, or more fiber cores. In addition, the MTP connector has introduced several improvements, such as a covered protective sleeve and a pluggable design to improve the ease of insertion and unplugging.
Floating Ferrule
MPO connectors use MT ferrules, while MTP is upgraded to floating ferrules. The floating design helps the connector maintain physical contact under load or strain. Essentially, floating ferrules are a more durable and reliable design option. This is one of the main reasons why MTP® connectors are ideal for emerging parallel optical Tx/Rx applications.
Guide Pins
Another key difference between MPO and MTP is the shape of the guide pin. MPO uses traditional flat-end guide pins, which generate more debris when used. And over time, it can damage high-precision connections.
MTP® connectors use oval guide pins, and this rounding on the pin reduces wear while maintaining good contact and tolerance expectations. This makes the MTP fibers last longer.
Standards & Compatibility:
MPO is a universal standard for multimode parallel optical connectors, while MTP is a trademark. MTP connectors are MPO compliant, and their quality and performance are guaranteed by additional testing and certification.
Performance & Reliability:
Compared with MPO connectors, MTP connectors have higher requirements for performance indicators such as insertion loss, return loss and cross-coupling. MTP connectors are finely tuned and optimized to ensure a more stable and reliable fiber connection.
Applications:
Due to its higher performance requirements and standardized quality control, MTP connectors are mainly used in applications that require high density, high bandwidth, and long-distance transmission, such as data centers, cloud computing, high-speed networks, and Fibre Channels.
Insertion-loss
MPO connectors have been recognized as the international standard for network architecture for many years. The MTP® connector is an advanced version that has been improved to minimize optical loss, packet loss, and more.
Conclusion
In summary, MTP is more suitable for high-performance, high-stability, and high-frequency plugging and unplugging scenarios. Such as data centers, ultra-high-speed networks, and 5G communications. MPO is better suited for environments with limited budgets and lower application requirements. The choice of which connector to use will depend on specific application needs and budget considerations. By properly selecting and applying these MTP/MPO fiber optic connectors, optimal network performance and space utilization can be achieved to meet the growing demands of modern data centers and high-performance networks.
