Category Archives: Fiber Optic Connectors

MTP Fiber Connectors for Plug-n-Play Systems

Currently, Plug-n-Play (PnP) fiber systems are becoming a prevalent choice for modern data centers with its advantage of quick-connect design, while MPO and MTP fiber connectors are the mainstays for modern PnP systems.

What Is Plug-n-Play System?

It is known to us that Plug-n-Play (PnP) fiber systems allow the quick addition of new devices in a computerized system, without the need for reconfiguration or manual installation of other external devices. And MPO connector and MTP connector are multi-fiber connectors which can provide up to 24 or more fibers in a single connector pushing up to and beyond 100Gbps data transmission. Since data centers host expensive equipment and process very sensitive information for networks, they must be always available. Therefore, the ability to quickly connect new equipment or service existing equipment is crucial. And Plug-n-Play fiber system with MPO connector and MTP connector is designed to achieve this “quick-connect” capability.

What Is MPO/MTP Fiber Connector?

Since more and more network hardware is equipped with QSFP/SFP+/SR4/CFP/CXP ports, cables with MPO fiber connector or  MTP fiber connector are becoming a requirement in these fields. However, data centers don’t have a monopoly on the technology! Anybody working with a large count of fiber that likes to save space would prefer to adopt MPO/MTP technology. With the advantage of minimizing the number of connectors and cables that enterprises are working with, MPO/MTP connectors can be found in the many other applications.

MTP Fiber Connector

1. Gigabit Ethernet

2. CATV and multimedia

3. Active device interface

4. Premise installations

5. Optical switch inter-frame connections

6. Interconnection for O/E modules

7.Telecommunication networks

8. Industrial & medical, etc

Summary

Since many years ago, installers have relied on MTP fiber connectors to speed deployment of data center installations. Today, we’ve seen the great advantages that MTP/MPO fiber connectors together with PnP system had brought to us. With their many years of high performance, ongoing improvements, and the next generation of advancements soon to come, MTP connectors will continue to deliver exceptional value for a vast range of network technologies.

Introduction to MTP Connector and MPO Connector

With an increasing demand for faster data transfer speed, the capacity to transfer data as efficiently as possible remains the main force in today’s communication age. Since the backbone of most modern digital information systems is supported by fiber optic networks, there is a growing focus upon the MPO fiber connector and MTP fiber connector.

What Are MPO and MTP Connectors?

MPO is the industry acronym for “multi-fibre push on.” Originally created in the late 20th century, MPO connector is the first generation of clip clamping multi-core optic fiber connector, which developed by the Japan NTT to easily interconnect multiple fiber strands and transfer an ever increasing amount of data.

While MTP is a registered trademark of US Conec, marketed as a “high performance MPO connector with multiple engineered product enhancements to improve optical and mechanical performance when compared to generic MPO connectors.” Both MTP connector and MPO connector are available with standard or elite / low loss options. The picture below shows the transmission of a 24-fiber MTP fiber connector.

MTP connector

What Makes the MTP Connector Superior to MPO?

The MTP connector has features and benefits that are not available on generic MPO connectors. Some of the key distinctions include:

1. The MTP connector housing is removable. This feature allows the customer to  re-work and re-polish the MT ferrule, change the gender after assembly or even in the field and scan the ferrule interferometrically after assembly.

2. The MTP connector offers ferrule float to improve mechanical performance. This allows two mated ferruled to maintain physical contact while under an applied load.

3. The MTP connector uses tightly held tolerance stainless steel guide pin tips with an elliptical shape. The elliptical shaped guide pin tips improves guidance and reduces guide hole wear.

4. The MTP connector has a metal pin clamp with features for centering the push spring. This can help eliminates lost pins and center spring force.

5. The MTP connector spring design maximizes ribbon clearance for twelve fiber and multi-fiber ribbon applications to prevent fiber damage.

6. The MTP connector is offered with four standard variations of strain relief boots to meet a wide array of applications. The short boot reduces the footprint by 45%, making it an ideal choice for use in space limited applications.

Summary

Low loss MTP connector and MPO connector deliver the performance and reliability needed in today’s  demanding  high-speed  broadband  and  data  networks.  Many suppliers like FS offers an extensive line of high-density MPO/MTP fiber connector products, including jumpers, fanouts, pigtails and connectorized cable. When you need a high-performance fiber optic connectivity solution, you can look to their  products featuring the MPO/MTP connector and choose freely.