The difference between the MPO and MTP fiber cable connectors?

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The
need of quick provision of ports in data center environments is fulfilled by
the use of multiport cables assemblies. This is very well achieved by a optical
fiber cable strand, typically with 12 individual fibers and one MPO/MTP
connector at the other end providing 6 parallel communication paths and twice
for 24 strand MPO cables. The quick provision is necessary in data centers
between rack to rack links. Using the connectors is a ‘plug and play’ solution
with already tested patch optical budget properties.

 

MPO
(Multi-fiber Push On) connectors are representing a standard for connecting
technologies. In many cases, multi-fiber connector products are referred to as

MTP
connectors. The MPO
connector is a multi-fiber connector that is defined by IEC-61754-7,
“Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components – Fibre optic
connector interfaces – Part 7: Type MPO connector family”; and TIA-604-5-D,”
Fiber Optic Connector Intermateability Standard, Type MPO”.

 

The
term MTP (Multifiber Termination Push on) is a registered trademark of US
Conec. This is the term used by US Conec to describe their connector. The US
Conec MTP product is fully compliant with the MPO standards. As such, the MTP connector
is an MPO connector. The MTP connector is described by US Conec as, “a high
performance MPO connector with multiple engineered product enhancements to
improve optical and mechanical performance when compared to generic MPO
connectors.”

 

Differences
between MPO and MTP:

 

head
shapes of the fibres differs: the MPO’s fibers are rectangular finish at head.
The MTP fibres are round head terminated. For long use in terms of numbers of
push in and pull up, the MTP round head fibres maintain the lossless good
coupling with female connectors.

You
cannot mate and have connectivity between the 12 strand MPO connector and 24
strand MPO connector.

12
Strand Applications

 

The
new and improved next-generation MPO connector now delivers the optical,
mechanical and environmental performance that service providers need to
expedite the addition of fiber capacity and to support higher data-rate
services. Among the numerous operational, financial and competitive benefits of
using MPO connectors in the data center environment, are:

 

• optical
insertion loss and return loss performance similar to single-fiber connectors

• maximum
space savings for high-density fiber environments;

• reduced
labor costs via fast, easy installation – because one 12/24 -fiber MPO
connector replaces 12/ 24 single fiber connectors; and

• compliance
with standards, i.e., IEC 61754-7; IEC 61755-3-31, IEC 61753-1

 

With
so many service providers around the world now relying on the MPO connector to
speed installation and deployment costs throughout their networks, it’s clear
that the improved, next-generation MPO connector is ready for tomorrow’s high
speed networks.

 

To
achieve better optical performance, greater durability in the field and
improved assembly quality, the design changes specifically include:

 

material
changes to ensure reliable performance across a wide temperature range as
specified in IEC 61755-3-31

extensively
researching and refining the polishing process to achieve consistent low loss
across all 12 fibers and replacing the flat ribbon cable assembly (for example,
0.178 inches x 0.08 inches) and its standard fiber with a round 3-mm cable
utilizing single reduced bend radius fibers.

 

Practical
implementations:

 

MPO/MTP
styles cassettes have on MPO/MTP connector at one end, the fiber wires insides
the cassettes rolled out and the individual 
pair of fibre pairs at the other end.

End
to end connectivity between cassettes is achieved with the use of trunk cables
between cassettes.

The
last connectivity pair is between cassettes individual pair of fibres
terminations and switch or routers through a patch pair minding the Tx/Rx
polarity.