Fibre-Optic Cabling System Offers Flexibility And Future-Proofing For Data-Centre Applications

The MPOptimate fibre-optic cabling system is aimed at data-centre owners who are considering the implementation of a structured cabling in accordance with ISO/IEC, EN or TIA standards, and who are looking for the most flexible pre-terminated MPO solution. With significantly improved optical parameters, the system allows for trends such as virtualisation and switch consolidation by super-switches as well as the higher speeds of future systems.

To achieve these requirements, Tyco Electronics has improved the overall production process of this class of fibre-optic system. As a result, key performance parameters are an insertion loss of 0.35 dB maximum per cassette and a return loss of more than 35 dB for the LC connector and 28 dB for the MPO connector. Both values are key issues that allow more components in a channel: something which is necessary in new data-centre designs as well as future 40 and 100 Gbit/s systems.

MPOptimate assemblies are pre-terminated and factory tested, and the design allows different data-centre designs for channels with two to six re-usable modular cassettes. The system fully supports all optical fibre applications within the Ethernet family.

The combination of lower loss and higher return loss allows for multiple connections between transmission equipment, resulting in the joint benefits of a lower space requirement and a much better scalability. The high-density cabling saves pathway space with improved airflow compared to traditional cable bundles, while the latest MPO technology provides lower power consumption than common fibre systems.

The fibre-optic cabling system is fully compliant with TIA/EI942, ISO/IEC 24764 and EN 50173-5, which are specific data centre standards. As a result, the MPOptimate system offers a complete end-to-end standard compliant passive infrastructure.