Tech Brief4 min read
Cabling Guide: When to Choose OM5 Fiber for Short-Reach 100G
D
David Naidoo
Head of Technical Sales
For 10Gbps and 40Gbps, OM3 and OM4 were sufficient. But as we move to 100Gbps (SR4) inside the rack, OM5 offers a unique advantage.
Wavelength Division Multiplexing
OM5 is lime green and optimized for SWDM (Short Wave Division Multiplexing). It allows four wavelengths (850nm - 950nm) to travel down a single pair of fibers. OM4 requires 8 fibers (MPO connector) for the same bandwidth.
Verdict
If you are aggregating 100G uplinks, OM5 reduces cable clutter significantly by allowing LC connectors instead of MPO.