MPO Array Cable

MPO connectors bundle multiple fibers in a single plug, saving rack space and replacing bulky duplex patch cord bundles, which improves airflow and cable management across data centers. Among MPO connectors, MPO-12 is the most widely adopted, as 100G and 400G applications rely on 4 Tx and 4 Rx lanes in parallel optics, using 8 of the 12 fibers.

MPO cables are typically supplied with female-to-female connectors, with female-to-male or male-to-male versions available upon request. Female-to-female is the most common configuration, as transceivers feature two male guide pins that only fit MPO female connectors.

Standard patching uses key-up to key-up (Type B=Rollover 1-12…12-1), while key-up to key-down (Type A=Straight Through 1-1…12-12) wiring is sometimes required to preserve the correct fiber sequence. That’s because in parallel optics like 400G-SR4/DR4, Tx must go to Rx. If the polarity is wrong, it ends up with Tx going to Tx or Rx going to Rx → no link. Sometimes you need to flip polarity so that the transmit lanes from one device always land on the receive lanes of the other device. Without that flip, parallel optics links won’t work.

Scenario 1 - Example of MPO trunks in Type A wiring:

• A Type A MPO patch cord is used on one end to connect patch panel ports to their respective transceiver ports, and a Type B MPO patch cord is used on the other end. Only one Type B patch cord can reside in the channel.

Scenario 2 - Example of MPO trunks in Type B wiring:

• Type B MPO patch cords are applied on both ends, ensuring proper connections and eliminating polarity concerns in parallel optics.

For intra-data-center links, multimode fibers OM3 and OM4 support distances up to 100 meters. For inter-data-center links, 400G-DR4 using single-mode OS2 with APC polish optimizes return loss and supports distances up to 500 meters.

Below is a real-world scenario showing how MMF and SMF array cables connect to transceivers for different speed applications.

MPO-12 for 400G-DR4/SR4:

MPO-12 Dual for 800G-DR8/SR8:

MPO-16 for 800G-DR8/SR8:

Because many physical choices affect transceiver connectivity, each specification must be exact:

• Connector Type: MPO or MTP
• MPO Size: MPO-12 or MPO-16
• Gender: female-to-female, male-to-female, or male-to-male
• Wiring: Type A or Type B
• Fiber Type: OM3 / OM4 / OM5 (MM) or OS2 (SM)
• Connector Polish: UPC / APC

We categorize our products into four groups: MPO-12 SMF, MPO-12 MMF, MPO-16 SMF, and MPO-16 MMF. Choose the group and provide the option details step by step so we can fulfill your order precisely.