Article Overview
Multimode fiber supports bandwidths ranging from 200 MHz·km (OM1) up to 28,000 MHz·km (OM5 with SWDM), with practical data rates from 1 Gbps to 400 Gbps depending on fiber type and distance.
Bandwidth and Modal Dispersion
Multimode fiber (MMF) has a larger core diameter (typically 50–62.5 µm) that allows multiple light modes to propagate simultaneously. This causes modal dispersion, where different light paths arrive at the receiver at slightly different times, spreading the pulse and limiting the maximum data rate over distance . To mitigate this, modern MMF often uses a graded-index core, which reduces pulse broadening by adjusting the refractive index from the center outward .
Multimode Fiber Types and Bandwidth
MMF is classified into OM1 through OM5, each with increasing bandwidth and performance:
- OM1 (62.5 µm core): 200 MHz·km at 850 nm, supports 10 GbE up to ~33 meters .
- OM2 (50 µm core): 500 MHz·km at 850 nm, supports 10 GbE up to ~82 meters .
- OM3 (50 µm, laser-optimized): 2000 MHz·km at 850 nm, supports 10 GbE up to 300 meters, 40/100 GbE up to 100 meters .
- OM4 (50 µm, laser-optimized): 4700 MHz·km at 850 nm, supports 10 GbE up to 550 meters, 40/100 GbE up to 150 meters .
- OM5 (50 µm, wideband MMF): 4700 MHz·km at 850 nm and 2470 MHz·km at 953 nm, designed for shortwave wavelength division multiplexing (SWDM), allowing multiple wavelengths to increase effective bandwidth up to 28,000 MHz·km .
Practical Considerations
- MMF is ideal for short-reach applications such as data centers, enterprise networks, and storage area networks, typically under 550 meters .
- The maximum data rate depends on fiber type, transceiver technology (LED vs. VCSEL), and distance. VCSELs enable higher speeds (10 Gbps and above) compared to LEDs .
- OM5's SWDM capability allows multiple 28 Gbps channels over the same fiber pair, effectively supporting 400G Ethernet in short-range deployments . In summary, multimode fiber bandwidth varies widely by type and distance, with OM1 supporting hundreds of MHz·km and OM5 supporting tens of GHz·km using advanced multiplexing. Its performance is limited primarily by modal dispersion, but modern laser-optimized fibers and SWDM techniques significantly extend both speed and reach.
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