What’s the difference between MTP® and MPO connectors is a common question asked in the fiber cabling industry. The two types of connectors are used in terminating multi-fiber cable connections in high-density optical network systems. They are either male or female and are key for efficient and high speed data transmission.
But although MTP® and MPO connectors appear to be similar, they have marked differences which result in widely contrasting performances. In this article, we explain what the MTP® and MPO connectors are, their differences, applications and how to determine the most suitable connector for you.
MTP® VS MPO Connectors: What is an MPO Connector?
The Multi-fiber Push On (MPO) connector is a component that connects numerous fiber optic cables through a single port. It is found at either end of fiber optic cables and was initially designed to connect 12 fibers in a single row.
The modern MPO connector can terminate as many as 72 fibers in a single or multiple rows with minimal transmission loss or interference. This makes it ideal for high-density applications such as 40G or even 400G data transmissions.
The MPO male connector has two pins while the female contains two holes into which the pins enter. The male and female connectors must be properly mated in a fiber cable connection. Since the ports in all MPO equipment are designed as male, then automatically any MPO cable that connects to the equipment should terminate in a female connector.
MTP® VS MPO Connectors: What is an MTP® Connector?
MTP is an acronym for “Multi-fiber Termination Push-on”. The MTP® connector is a more improved type of the MPO connector and has a higher performance capability. Its enhanced design reduces insertion loss, wear and inadvertent bumps which may impact the signal stability.
Due to its advanced features, the MTP connector has several advantages among them lesser installation time. Before its emergence, it would take two installers 24 hours to terminate 144 fibers. Today, that can be accomplished in just a few hours.
MTP® is a registered trademark of the US Conec.
MTP® VS MPO Connectors: Comparisons
Although the MTP® connector is superior to the MPO connector in its performance and reliability, the two share some common features as outlined below:
Standards
Both the MTP® and MPO connectors are standardized by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the US-based Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). The commonly used standards are the IEC-61754-7 and TIA-604-5 which allow for universal use and compatibility with MPO-based infrastructures.
Cleaning and Testing
Before creating a connection, both the MTP® and MPO connectors need to be properly cleaned and inspected. This reduces the possibility of transferring contaminants from one fiber to another which can impact the connection and thus the network’s overall performance.
Polarity
For data transmission to be effective, both the MTP® and MPO connectors require the correct fiber polarity. Fiber polarity refers to the match between the transmitting signal at one end of the optical cable and the corresponding receiver at the other end. The TIA has standardized three polarity methods namely Method A, Method B and Method B.
MTP® VS MPO Connectors: What are the Differences?
The main difference between MPO and MTP® connectors lies in their mechanical design and optical performance.
Housing
Unlike the MPO connector, the MTP® connector has a removable housing. This allows for re-working or re-polishing the Mechanically Transferable (MT) ferrule, transition of gender either after assembly or in the field, and testing the performance. The testing involves the simultaneous scanning of all fibers terminated in an MTP® connector using a specially designed tester.
Guide Pins
The MTP® connector is designed with an elliptical stainless steel guide pin tip which reduces the production of debris during repeated mating of connectors.
The guide pin of the MPO connector has a chamfered tip which leads to generation of more debris. The debris can fall into the guide holes and thus affect the connection.
Pin Clamp
The MTP® connector’s pin clamp is metallic which strengthens the pins’ clasp and reduces breakage during connections. The MTP® connector also has an oval spring which protects the ribbon cable from mechanical damage during connection.
The MPO connector has a plastic pin clamp which can easily break in repeated cable mating. The MPO connector is designed with an unsecured round spring which can accidentally damage the fiber ribbon.
Floating Ferrule
In MTP® connectors, the ferrule – component surrounding the fiber strands – has a floating design. This ensures that physical contact is maintained in mated connectors when under strain or load. This feature enables the fiber tips to remain in contact with the connector even when the housing rotates.
Additionally, the floating ferrule is made from thermoplastic material which gives it more resilience in environments with varying temperatures.
The MPO connector uses the mechanically transferable ferrule which is a downgrade from the floating ferrule.
MTP® VS MPO Connectors: Applications of MTP®/MPO connectors
MTP®/MPO connectors are used in high speed network systems with bandwidths of 40G, 100G and 400G such as data centers, enterprise networks and telecommunications.
The MTP®/MPO connectors solve the need to fit multiple fibers in small spaces making them ideal for applications with serious space limitations.
Due to its ever improving features including scalability, the MTP connector is used with other technology in diverse industries including medical, financial and educational.
MTP® VS MPO Connectors: What to consider when choosing an MTP®/MPO connector
When considering whether to use the MTP® or MPO connector, it’s important to determine the application requirements, performance needs and your budget. If your application can work with low-speed and short distance transmission, the MPO connector is the most suitable. It’s also more preferable if you are working with a small budget.
But if you require high speed and long distance transmission with minimal insertion loss, then the MTP® connector is the best.
Conclusion
As the need for high density and faster data transmission speed increases, the MTP®/MPO connectors will become even more indispensable. For instance, the fact that they allow multiple cables to be stacked together means less use of space and thus lower fiber cabling installation cost.
Besides understanding the difference between the MTP® and MPO connectors, it’s important to keep tabs with the developments in the MTP® and MPO connectors’ landscape.
This is where Sanopti comes in. We are committed to providing you with the correct, timely information and to guide you make the best decisions regarding all your network application needs.
