MPO Cassette: A Modular Solution for High-Density Fiber Connectivity

Fiber optic cabling is gaining popularity in data centers, central offices, and headends because it offers faster data transmission, lower delays, and reduced power usage compared to copper cabling. However, using fiber optic cabling also presents some challenges. These challenges include managing a large number of fibers, ensuring the correct alignment, and reducing installation time and cost.

One way to address these challenges is to use MPO cassettes. MPO cassettes are pre-terminated, pre-tested modules that transition from multi-fiber cables and array connectors to traditional single-fiber connectors. The MPO cassettes have a rear MPO connector that is compatible with an MTP® patch cord and a front panel with LC or SC adapters. MPO cassettes can be easily snapped into a fiber panel or enclosure, providing plug-and-play fiber connectivity.

Benefits

• Flexibility: MPO cassettes can support different fiber types, such as single mode, multimode, OM3, OM4, and OM5, and different fiber counts, such as 12, 24, or 48 fibers. MPO cassettes can also support different applications, such as 10G, 40G, or 100G Ethernet, or fiber channels.
• Scalability: MPO cassettes can be added or removed as needed, allowing for easy network expansion or reconfiguration. MPO cassettes can also support different polarity methods, such as Method A, B, or C, by using different types of MPO patch cords or adapters.

• Reliability: MPO cassettes are factory-terminated and tested, ensuring high performance and quality. MPO cassettes also reduce the risk of human error, dust contamination, or fiber damage during installation, as they eliminate the need for field termination or splicing.

Common MPO Cassette Types Overview

MPO cassettes come in different types, depending on the number of fibers and the type of connectors they use.

• MPO-LC cassettes: These cassettes have one MPO connector at the rear and multiple LC connectors at the front. They can be used to break out a single MPO cable into several duplex LC cables. For example, a 12-fiber MPO-LC cassette can split one MPO cable into six LC duplex cables.

• MPO-MPO cassettes: These cassettes have MPO connectors at both the rear and the front. They can be used to convert between different types of MPO cables, such as 8-fiber, 12-fiber, or 24-fiber. For example, a 24-fiber MPO-MPO cassette can convert two 12-fiber MPO cables into one 24-fiber MPO cable.

MPO cassettes are a modular solution for high-density fiber connectivity, enabling more network flexibility, faster deployment, and easier moves, adds, and changes.

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