The difference between MPO and MTP fiber cable connectors?

As we know, the need of quick provision of ports in data center environments is fulfilled by the use of multiport fiber cables assemblies. This is very well achieved by a fiber optic 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.