What is Multi-mode optical fiber?

The Multi-mode optical fiber (also called multimode fiber or MM fiber) is a type of optical fiber mostly used for short distances’ communication, such as the same building. Typical multimode links have data rates of 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps over link lengths of up to 600 meters, 300 m for 10 Gbps-more than sufficient for the majority of premises applications. The equipment used for communications over multi-mode optical fiber is less expensive than that for single-mode optical fiber. Typical transmission speed and distance limits are 100 Mbps for distances up to 2 km (100 BASE-FX), 1 Gbps to 550 m (1000 BASE-SX), and 10 Gbps to 300 m (10G BASE-SR). The multi-mode fiber has cable larger core diameter of 62.5/125 and 50/125, which Multi mode connectors are also cheaper than Single mode ones. Because it has high capacity and reliability, multi-mode optical fiber generally is used for backbone applications in buildings. An increasing number of users are taking the benefits of fiber closer to the user by running fiber to the desktop or to the zone. Standards-compliant architectures such as Centralized Cabling and fiber to the telecom enclosure offer users the ability to leverage the distance capabilities of fiber by centralizing electronics in telecommunications rooms, rather than having active electronics on each floor.