When Cloud computing and web services continue to push the demand for bandwidth, new transmission medium must be developed to meet the requirements of end users. A new multimode optical fiber called OM5 fiber will allow to use the SWDM technology to transmit multiple wavelengths on one fiber. In this way, end users can obtain greater bandwidth and higher speeds. To help you use OM5 fiber to its greatest advantage, this article will introduce the basis of multimode fiber and OM5 fiber and highlight the key benefits of OM5 fiber. Consequently, you can find that OM5 is a new successful option for data centers.
Multimode fiber is a type of optical fiber that is designed to carry multiple light rays or modes simultaneously. It is mostly used for transmission over short distances in result of modal dispersion. Typically, the link length of MMF fiber cable is up to 600 meters (2000 feet). Besides, multimode fiber cable has a fairly large core diameter that enables multiple light modes to be transmitted. The core’s graded index profile is designed to slow down modes that have a shorter distance to transmit, so all modes arrive at the end of the fiber as close in time as possible. As a result, this process minimizes modal dispersion and maximizes bandwidth. In addition, multimode fiber optic patch cables have a large numerical aperture, the maximum angle at which a fiber can accept the light that will be transmitted through it. This allows them to work with relatively low-cost optical components and light sources such as LEDs and VCSELs.
OM5 is a wideband multimode fiber, which is a recently released fiber medium that is now recognized within TIA and IEC standards. OM5 fiber is a 50µm laser-optimized multimode fiber with extended bandwidth. It is designed to support SWDM applications in range of wavelengths from 850nm to 953nm for transmitting 40Gb/s and 100Gb/s, optimizing for reducing fiber counts for higher speeds. Specifically, OM5 fiber can reduce parallel fiber count by at least a factor of four to allow continued use of just two fibers (rather than eight) for transmitting 40 Gb/s(up to 400m) and 100 Gb/s(up to 150m).
To welcome the selection of the new fiber, the following is the key benefits of OM5 fiber:
- OM5 offers a wider range of wavelengths.
It supports wavelength from 850nm to 953nm for transmitting 40Gb/s and 100Gb/s, which is ready for next-generation wideband networks.
- OM5 will reduce costs.
OM5 fiber allows to use the SWDM technology to transmit multiple wavelengths on one fiber, increasing the bandwidth of a single fiber by a factor of at least four. Therefore, OM5 minimizes the number of fibers required to achieve greater speeds, and preserves the economic benefit of using multimode optical fiber.
- OM5 is required for higher speeds.
Through the SWDM technology, OM5 is provided the capability to increase transmission speeds.
- OM5 is ready for the future’s applications.
OM5 is backwards compatible to OM4 and OM3, and it can apply to future applications such as 40GBASE-SR, 100GBASE-SR, 200GBASE-SR, and 400GBASE-SR4, but also 128GFC and 256GFC.
For the increasing needs of today’s data centers and the demands of commercial and industrial applications, the OM5 multimode wideband fiber optic patch cables allow for continued economic benefit in deploying short reach optics using multimode optical fiber. The full performance range and better optical and geometry specifications can allow for reduced connection / insertion loss and greater systems margin, which in turn enables longer reach, additional connections, and greater systems reliability.