Female MTP® Elite to LC/UPC Fanout | Base-12 | Multi Mode G651.OM4 | 3.0/1.8mm

Overview

The Female MTP® to LC UPC Fanout Cable provides a flexible and high-performance solution for connecting high-density backbone cabling to individual equipment ports. This assembly features a Female MTP® Elite connector (without pins) on one end, designed to mate with a male MTP® trunk cable or patch cord. The cable then separates into 12 individual simplex LC UPC (Ultra Physical Contact) connectors, allowing for easy patching into SFP/SFP+ transceivers and other standard LC-interfaced hardware.

Engineered with superior laser-optimized OM4 multi-mode fiber, this 12 fiber breakout cable is built to support the high bandwidth requirements of modern data centers, including 40G (40GBASE-SR4) and 100G Ethernet. The use of a genuine low-loss MTP® Elite connector combined with precision LC UPC terminations guarantees minimal signal degradation and optimal link performance, making it an ideal choice for structured cabling systems and high-speed data applications.

Key Features

• Female Connector for Interconnection: Features a female (pinless) MTP® connector, perfect for connecting to male MTP® backbone or trunk cables.
• High-Density Fanout: Efficiently converts a single 12-fiber (Base-12) MTP® interface into 12 simplex LC UPC connections.
• Elite Low Loss Performance: Incorporates a genuine MTP® Elite connector for ultra-low insertion loss (IL ≤ 0.35dB), preserving critical power budget.
• High-Speed OM4 Fiber: Constructed with OM4 50/125µm fiber, offering extended reach and bandwidth for 40G and 100G data transmission.
• Universal LC Connectors: Terminated with industry-standard LC UPC connectors for broad compatibility with network switches, servers, and transceivers.
• Simplified Patching: Reduces cable congestion and simplifies port mapping by consolidating multiple patch cords into one managed assembly.

Applications

This cable is the ideal interface between high-density MTP® trunking and lower-speed equipment ports. It serves as a flexible alternative to MTP® cassettes for breaking out channels.

• Data Center Structured Cabling
• Connecting MTP® Trunks to Active Equipment
• 40G/100G to 10G/25G Breakout Architectures
• Patch Panel to Switch Interconnects
• Storage Area Networks (SAN) and High-Performance Computing

Specifications

Cross-Platform Compatibility

This MTP® to LC UPC 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 UPC 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 the Female MTP® fanout is its role in creating a modular and scalable network. It allows a permanent MTP® backbone (trunk) cable to be run between racks or zones, with this fanout cable providing the final, flexible connection to equipment. This “last mile” approach simplifies moves, adds, and changes (MACs). By using OM4 fiber and an MTP® Elite connector, this cable ensures that high-speed links like 40G and 100G maintain maximum performance and reach, even after multiple connection points.

FAQ (Technical & Product Questions)

1. When is a Female MTP® connector the correct choice?

A female MTP® connector (without guide pins) is used to connect to a male MTP® connector. This makes it ideal for connecting to MTP® trunk cables or long-distance patch cords that are terminated with male ends, allowing you to extend a high-density link and break it out into individual channels near the equipment.

2. What is OM4 fiber and why is it used?

OM4 is a laser-optimized multi-mode fiber (LOMMF) with a higher effective modal bandwidth (4700 MHz·km) than OM3. This allows it to transmit data at higher speeds and over longer distances. For example, it supports 40G/100G Ethernet up to 150 meters, compared to 100 meters for OM3.

3. How does this cable fit into a 40G breakout scenario?

In a typical 40G breakout, a male MTP®-to-male MTP® trunk cable runs between two points. At the equipment rack, this female MTP® to LC fanout connects to the male trunk. The LC ends then plug into four separate 10G SFP+ transceivers, successfully breaking out the 40G signal into 4x10G channels.

4. What does Base-12 mean for this cable?

Base-12 indicates that the MTP® connector is populated with 12 fibers. This fanout cable “breaks out” those 12 fibers into 12 individual simplex LC connectors, which can be paired to create up to 6 duplex channels for various applications.

5. What is the benefit of the MTP® Elite connector?

MTP® Elite is a premium version of the MTP® connector that guarantees a very low insertion loss of 0.35dB or less. This is significantly better than standard MPO/MTP® connectors and is critical for high-speed links where every decibel of power budget is crucial for link stability.

6. Is this cable the same as an MTP® Cassette?

No, but they serve a similar function. An MTP® cassette is a rigid, enclosed module that performs the MTP®-to-LC conversion inside a box. This fanout cable is a flexible, soft-cabled alternative that offers more versatility in cable routing and can be more cost-effective in certain situations.

7. What is the difference between LC UPC and LC APC?

LC UPC (Ultra Physical Contact) connectors have a flat-polished end-face, resulting in a return loss of around -50dB. LC APC (Angled Physical Contact) connectors have an 8-degree angled end-face, which reflects light back at an angle, providing a much better return loss of -60dB or more. UPC is common for multi-mode and digital applications, while APC is standard for RF, video, and single-mode applications sensitive to back reflection.

8. Can I use this OM4 cable with OM3 equipment?

Yes, OM4 is fully backward compatible with OM3. If you connect an OM4 cable into an OM3 system, the entire link will perform to the lower OM3 specification. Using OM4 cables ensures your infrastructure is ready for future speed upgrades.