OM4 Fiber Patch Cable

Compared to OM3 fiber, OM4 provides an additional layer of performance for 40 and 100 GB/s applications required in longer distance data centers. But it is compatible with the OM3 fiber system, allowing the two fibers to be interchangeable within their limitations.

There are two types of fiber: single mode and multimode

(1) Single-mode fiber can be OS1 or OS2

(2) Multimode fiber is divided into OM1, OM2, OM3 and OM4

The latter two are the media of choice for data center applications, especially OM4. OM4 is a laser-optimized 50 micron glass fiber and has a long history, but it was not standardized as a fiber type by the TIA/EIA until August 2009 and defined as 492AAAD.

Multimode fiber

Its standard stipulates that the effective modal bandwidth of the laser source is 850 nm, the effective modal bandwidth is 4700 MHz/km, and the effective modal bandwidth for overfill emission is 3500 MHz/km. This specification makes OM4 the multimode fiber that supports the longest distances in a variety of applications.

OM4 reduces the number of applications that really require expensive single-mode fiber by providing a distance of at least 125 m in the standard range of 40 GB/s and 100 GB/s, providing a solution for high-density systems and allowing More installations to avoid high cost single mode systems.

Optimize your network by choosing OM4 over OM3 or OS2

Well, the basic thing you have to keep in mind is the cost versus the distance of the fiber you need. OS2 fiber can meet all the bandwidth requirements that a data center needs to transmit large amounts of data, but for links from 2 km to 100 km, the cost is only worth it because the transceivers and laser systems that illuminate single-mode fiber are really expensive. This fiber is mainly used for long distance applications.

But most importantly OM4 fiber can be used with cheaper VCSELs (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers) which are significantly cheaper and meet OS2 specifications at shorter distances for data center applications. But even there, you have to analyze your needs, because OM3 can also be suitable for some tasks, it is better to use mpo connectors in data center cabling.

mpo connector

OM3 fiber is suitable for 10 GB/s Ethernet transmission at a distance of 300 meters, while OM4 fiber is suitable for 550 meters. For 40 GB/s and 100 GB/s applications, OM3 can work at 100 meters, while OM4 can work at 150 meters. Therefore, OM4 is not a replacement for OM3 fiber, so it will not become obsolete in the short or long term.

OM4 gives you the opportunity to obsolete your cabling infrastructure by providing better performance to support longer distances, more Ethernet connections and Fibre Channel applications.