Table 3: Multimode fiber grades
Fiber mode
Fiber grade
Fiber diameter (μm)
Modal bandwidth at 850 nm
(MHz*km)
Multimode fiber
OM1
62.5/125
200
OM2
50/125
500
OM3
50/125
2000
OM4
50/125
4700
Other factors that influence the transmission distance of multimode fibers include interface type, central
wavelength, and fiber grade. The modal bandwidth values shown above are for the fiber grades listed. There
are multimode fibers that have different modal bandwidth characteristics and do not necessarily match the
OM1 - OM4 grades.
Table 4: Multimode fiber specifications
Interface types
Central wavelength
(nm)
Fiber grade
Transmission distance
1000BASE-SX
850
OM1
< 275 m (902.23 ft)
OM2
< 550 m (1804.46 ft)
10GBASE-SR
850
OM1
< 33 m (108.27 ft)
OM2
< 82 m (269.03 ft)
OM3
< 300 m (984.25 ft)
OM4
< 400m (1312.34 ft)
10GBASE-LRM
1310
OM1
< 220 m (721.78 ft)
OM2
< 220 m (721.78 ft)
OM3
< 220 m (721.78 ft)
OM4
< 220 m (721.78 ft)
SMF
<300m (987.25 ft)
• Single-mode fibers
Single-mode fibers (SMFs) have a small core size, typically 9 μm or 10 μm, and can transmit light in only one
mode. Single-mode fibers suffer little intermodal dispersion and are suitable for long-haul communication.
Single-mode fibers transmit light at the central wavelength of 1310 nm or 1550 nm.
Telecommunication Industries Alliance (TIA)/Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) defines that single-mode fibers
use yellow outer jackets with the mark "SM".
ITU defines single-mode fiber types in its G series standards. The most commonly used single-mode fibers are
defined in ITU G.652 and G.655 standards. The following table describes features of the G.652 and G.655-
compliant fibers.
8
ArubaOS-Switch and ArubaOS-CX Transceiver Guide
