A Multi-fiber Push On (MPO) connector is a fiber optic connector that contains multiple fiber-optic lines internally. MPO connectors are used for high-speed telecommunication and data communication networks. The standards governing the design and use of MPO connectors are the IEC 61754-7 and TIA 604-5. Originally, MPO connectors were predominantly used in the Central and Branch offices but have also seen wide adoption in high performance computing (HPC) applications and in enterprise datacenters. Though there was a time when MPOs were heavily used in cloud datacenters, the competitive cost structure of cloud datacenters often leads to installations relying on MXC connectors with higher insertion loss, but a lower cost compared to MPO connectors.
Over the years MPO connectors have become available in a wider range of fiber densities, starting with 12-single row fiber types. Now, 8 and 16 single-row fiber types are available with stacked MPO connectors providing 24, 36, and even 72 fiber connectors with the aid of high precision multiple ferrules. The higher fiber connection count MPOs tend to have slightly worse insertion loss and reflection performance compared to lower fiber count MPOs, as maintaining alignment tolerances within such a compact connector housing is a significant challenge. Hence, there are sometimes multiple MPO products available with varying degrees of performance at varying costs.
There are also a variety of sizes of MPO connectors, such as mini-MPO and micro-MPO connector housings, which directly compete with MXC housings. These varieties are available as a response to the various needs of different applications. For example, telecommunication networking installations generally have more space and higher performance demands, where cloud data center racks are packed in much higher density with less connector footprint available and tighter bend radii.
Depending on the application, there are also MPO connectors designed to withstand various environmental factors. Some industrial and enterprise applications use circular or rectangular overshells added to the MPO connector, while mining and defense applications often require more rugged circular connectors with metallic overshells.
Regardless of the form or factor, MPO connectors are widely used for their high-speed data capacity and a way to rapidly deploy plug-and-play backbone cables with ease in cable management between switches. Higher density MPO connectors are also able to accommodate new speeds to 100 Gig, with newer releases reaching toward 200 and 400 Gig speeds as the industry demands higher speed connections using parallel optics.
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