Multimode fiber has higher bandwidth

OM5 multimode fiber offers the highest bandwidth among multimode fibers, supporting multiple wavelengths and speeds up to 400 Gbps using SWDM technology.

Overview of Multimode Fiber Types

Multimode fiber (MMF) is designed for short-distance, high-bandwidth applications, with a larger core (50 or 62.5 µm) that allows multiple light modes to propagate simultaneously . The main types of multimode fiber are OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4, and OM5, each with increasing bandwidth and data-rate capabilities:

• OM1: 62.5 µm core, low bandwidth, suitable for legacy 1 Gbps networks over short distances.
• OM2: 50 µm core, slightly higher bandwidth, supports 1–10 Gbps over moderate distances.
• OM3: Laser-optimized 50 µm core, modal bandwidth of 2000 MHz·km, supports 10G Ethernet up to 300 m, 40G/100G up to 100 m .
• OM4: Laser-optimized 50 µm core, modal bandwidth of 4700 MHz·km, supports 10G Ethernet up to 400 m, 40G up to 150 m, 100G up to 100 m .
• OM5: Wideband multimode fiber (WB-MMF), same core size as OM4, designed for short-wavelength division multiplexing (SWDM). It supports at least four WDM channels at 28 Gbps per channel, enabling aggregate speeds up to 400 Gbps over a single fiber pair .

Why OM5 Has the Highest Bandwidth

OM5 extends the usable wavelength range from 850 nm to 953 nm, allowing multiple wavelengths to transmit simultaneously. This increases channel density without adding more fibers, making it ideal for modern data centers and cloud-scale networks . While OM4 already supports high-speed 40G and 100G Ethernet, OM5 enables future-ready 400G networks with fewer fibers and lower transceiver costs.

Practical Implications

• Data Centers: OM5 is preferred for high-density, high-speed deployments where minimizing fiber count is critical.
• Enterprise Networks: OM4 remains cost-effective for 10G–100G applications, but OM5 provides scalability for future upgrades.
• Compatibility: OM5 is backward compatible with OM3 and OM4, so existing infrastructure can be upgraded without replacing all fibers . In summary, OM5 multimode fiber represents the highest bandwidth option for multimode networks, leveraging SWDM to achieve multi-hundred-gigabit speeds over short distances, while OM4 and OM3 remain widely used for current 10G–100G applications.