Female MTP® Elite to LC/UPC Fanout | Base-12 | Multi Mode G651.OM3 | 3.0/1.8mm

Overview

The Female MTP® Elite to LC UPC Base-12 Fanout Cable provides a reliable and cost-effective solution for breaking out high-density multi-mode connections in data centers and enterprise networks. This assembly features a pinless Female MTP® Elite connector on one end, designed to connect to a male MTP® backbone trunk. The cable then splits into 12 individual LC UPC simplex connectors (6 duplex pairs), enabling direct patching to standard SFP+ or QSFP+ transceiver ports.

Built with laser-optimized OM3 multi-mode fiber (G.651), this cable is fully optimized for 10G Ethernet up to 300 meters and 40G/100G Ethernet up to 100 meters. The use of a genuine MTP® Elite connector ensures exceptionally low insertion loss, preserving signal integrity across the link. This fanout cable simplifies cable management by replacing multiple duplex patch cords with a single, streamlined assembly, making it perfect for high-density patching fields.

Key Features

• Female MTP® for Trunking: Features a female (no pins) MTP® connector, allowing for modular connections to male MTP® trunk cables.
• Base-12 Density: Breaks out a 12-fiber MTP® connection into 6 duplex LC channels for standard equipment connectivity.
• Cost-Effective OM3 Performance: Utilizes OM3 fiber, providing an ideal balance of performance and cost for 10G and 40G network links.
• Elite Low Loss Connectivity: Equipped with a premium MTP® Elite connector for minimal insertion loss (IL ≤ 0.35dB), protecting your link budget.
• Simplified Patching: Replaces 6 individual duplex fiber patch cords with a single managed cable, reducing clutter and improving airflow.
• Durable Construction: Features a robust 3.0mm main cable and 1.8mm fanout legs with an LSZH/Plenum rated jacket for safety and reliability.

Applications

This cable is ideal for bridging the gap between high-density MTP® backbone infrastructure and lower-speed LC-interfaced equipment.

• Data Center Aggregation and Switch-to-Server Links
• Breaking out 40GBASE-SR4 ports into four 10GBASE-SR links
• Connecting MTP® cassettes and patch panels to active equipment
• High-density fiber distribution frames
• Storage Area Networks (SAN) and enterprise backbones

Specifications

Cross-Platform Compatibility

This MTP® to LC breakout cable is manufactured to meet and exceed all relevant TIA/EIA and IEC industry standards for optical performance and connector geometry. Its standards-compliant design guarantees universal compatibility with any networking hardware or passive infrastructure that uses MTP®-12 and LC interfaces. It is proven to work flawlessly with equipment from all leading manufacturers, including:

• Cisco
• Juniper
• Arista
• HPE/Aruba
• Brocade
• Dell/Force10
• Finisar
• Intel

Advantages

The primary advantage of this cable is its ability to provide a clean, cost-efficient transition from a Base-12 MTP® backbone to standard LC ports. The female MTP® connector allows for easy integration with existing male trunks. Using OM3 fiber offers significant cost savings compared to OM4 while still delivering robust performance for the most common data center link speeds (10G and 40G) over typical distances. It is the perfect choice for budget-conscious deployments that do not require the extended reach of OM4.

FAQ (Technical & Product Questions)

1. Why choose a Female MTP® connector?

MPO/MTP® connectivity standards require a male-to-female connection for proper fiber alignment. A female connector (with no pins) is used to connect to a male connector (with pins), which is typically found on trunk cables or equipment ports.

2. What does Base-12 mean for this fanout cable?

Base-12 means the MTP® connector has 12 fiber positions. This fanout cable breaks out those 12 fibers into 12 individual LC connectors, which are typically paired to form 6 duplex channels for connecting to devices like SFP+ transceivers.

3. What are the main applications for OM3 fiber?

OM3 is a laser-optimized multi-mode fiber designed for higher speeds than legacy OM1/OM2. Its primary applications are 10 Gigabit Ethernet up to 300 meters, 40 Gigabit Ethernet up to 100 meters, and 100 Gigabit Ethernet up to 100 meters, making it a cost-effective choice for many data center links.

4. What is the difference between OM3 and OM4 fiber?

Both are 50/125µm multi-mode fibers, but OM4 has a higher modal bandwidth (4700 MHz·km vs. 2000 MHz·km for OM3). This allows OM4 to support the same speeds over longer distances (e.g., 10G up to 400m, 40G/100G up to 150m). OM3 is a more economical choice when the extended reach of OM4 is not needed.

5. How many duplex connections does this cable provide?

This Base-12 fanout cable provides 12 simplex LC connectors, which can be paired up to create 6 duplex connections, perfect for connecting six separate devices that require a transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) path.

6. What is the difference between UPC and APC polish?

UPC (Ultra Physical Contact) has a flat end-face polish that offers good performance and is standard for multi-mode applications. APC (Angled Physical Contact) has an 8-degree angled end-face that provides much lower back reflection (higher return loss) and is the standard for single-mode applications sensitive to reflections, like video and long-haul links.

7. Can this cable be used for a 40G QSFP+ connection?

Yes. This is a primary application. A 40GBASE-SR4 QSFP+ transceiver uses 8 of the 12 fibers in an MTP® connector (4 transmit, 4 receive). This fanout cable can be used to “break out” that 40G port into four separate 10G SFP+ connections when wired with the correct polarity (typically Type B).

8. Why is an MTP® Elite connector important?

The MTP® Elite is a high-performance version of the MTP® connector that guarantees a very low insertion loss (0.35dB max). In links with multiple connection points (e.g., trunk > fanout > transceiver), minimizing loss at each point is critical to ensure the overall link stays within its power budget.