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50μm VS 62.5μm: Which Multimode Fiber to Choose?

Uploaded2021/7/16 21:03:42     Hits    Source

Single-mode Fiber vs. Multimode Fiber

Single Mode Fiber

Single mode fiber is a fiber featuring a small light-carrying core of about 9 micrometers (μm) in diameter. For reference, a human hair is closer to 100 μm. The core is surrounded by a cladding that brings the overall diameter of the optical fiber to 125 μm. Single-mode fiber cable has only one mode of propagation: a single wavelength of light in the fiber core. This means there’s no interference or overlap between the different wavelengths of light to garble your data over long distances like there is with multimode cable.

Multimode Fiber

Multimode fiber is a fiber with a core of 50 μm or above. A larger core means multiple modes (or rays of light) can travel down the core simultaneously. Just like single mode, the core is surrounded by a cladding that brings the overall diameter of the optical fiber to 125 μm.

What are 50μm fiber and 62.5μm fiber?

The numbers 50μm and 62.5μm refer to the diameters of the glass or plastic core, the part of the fiber that carries the light which encodes your data. The dimensions are sometimes specified as 50/125μm and 62.5/125μm, to include the diameter of the cladding. (The cladding confines the light to the core because it has a lower index of refraction.) Cable construction is shown in the following diagram, indicating the cable core, cladding, and outer jacket diameters.


The Difference

Although the 50-micron fiber has a smaller core, which is the light-carrying part of the fiber, the glass cladding diameter of the 62.5 and 50-micron cables is the same, both being 125 microns. You can use both cables in the same type of network, but it is recommended to use 50-micron cables for local applications: backbone, horizontal, and internal building connections, and special consideration should be given to any new buildings and installations. Both types can use LED or laser light sources. The main difference between 50-micron and 62.5-micron cables is that the bandwidth of 50-micron cables is three times that of standard 62.5-micron cables, especially at 850 nanometers. As lasers are increasingly used as light sources, the 850-nanometer wavelength becomes more and more important. Other differences are distance and speed. 50-micron cables provide longer link lengths and/or higher speeds at 850 nm wavelength.

Which One Should I Choose?

With the increasing demand for network capacity, upgrade plans must focus on the future. The installation of 50μm multimode fiber today brings the direct benefits of longer cable distances and improved optical loss budget margins, and prepares for future network upgrades. If you haven't started yet, now is the time to start phasing out 62.5μm fiber and move to the world 50μm for higher performance.


Baudcom offers a variety of fiber optic cables. For more information about fiber optic cables, please visit Baudcom.


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