Female MTP® Elite to LC/UPC Fanout | Base-12 | Single Mode G657.A2 | 3.0/1.8mm

Overview

The Female MTP® Elite to LC UPC Base-12 Single-Mode Fanout Cable is expertly designed for high-density breakout applications within single-mode fiber networks. This cable serves as a critical bridge, connecting a Male MTP® backbone or trunk cable to multiple devices with standard LC interfaces. It features a Female MTP® Elite connector (unpinned) on one end and fans out to 12 simplex LC UPC connectors (6 duplex pairs) on the other.

This assembly is constructed with G.657.A2 bend-insensitive single-mode fiber, which offers exceptional resilience and low macrobending loss, making it ideal for installation in constrained spaces like high-density racks, cabinets, and enclosures where routing is challenging. While APC polish is common for single-mode, the LC UPC (Ultra Physical Contact) connectors on this cable are suited for applications that are less sensitive to back reflection or where compatibility with existing UPC infrastructure is required. The use of an MTP® Elite connector guarantees an ultra-low insertion loss (IL ≤ 0.35dB), preserving signal strength across the link.

Key Features

• Female MTP® Connector: Designed without pins to mate perfectly with a Male MTP® trunk cable, extending your high-density structured cabling.
• Bend-Insensitive G.657.A2 Fiber: Superior G.657.A2 fiber allows for tight bend radii with minimal signal loss, ensuring reliability in space-constrained installations.
• High-Performance LC UPC Connectors: Provides a reliable and cost-effective connection for single-mode equipment with a return loss of ≥50dB.
• Elite Low Loss Performance: The MTP® Elite connector ensures an exceptionally low insertion loss of 0.35dB maximum, crucial for long-reach and multi-connection links.
• Optimized for 100G PSM4 Breakouts: Ideal for distributing a 100G PSM4 signal from a single MTP® port into four 25G LC duplex channels.
• Simplified Cable Management: Consolidates 12 individual fibers into one streamlined assembly, reducing cable congestion and improving airflow.

Applications

This fanout cable is built for demanding single-mode environments in data centers and telecommunication networks.

• Connecting MTP® trunk cables to servers, switches, and storage with LC SFP/SFP+ ports
• 100G PSM4 to 4x 25G SFP28 breakout applications
• 40GBASE-PLR4 to 4x 10GBASE-LR breakout applications
• High-density interconnects within data center distribution areas (MDAs, IDAs)
• Patching from MTP® cassettes or panels to active equipment
• FTTH and other telecommunication distribution networks

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 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 key advantage of this cable is its ability to flexibly extend and distribute high-density single-mode connections. The **Female MTP® connector** allows it to mate with pre-installed male backbone cabling, while the **G.657.A2 fiber** ensures robust performance even when bent or routed in tight pathways. This makes it an invaluable tool for deploying or reconfiguring equipment in dense data center environments.

FAQ (Technical & Product Questions)

1. What is a Female MTP® connector used for?

A Female MTP® connector is unpinned (it has alignment holes instead of pins). Its primary purpose is to connect to a Male (pinned) MTP® connector, typically found at the end of a trunk cable or on an equipment port. This allows for the extension and distribution of a multi-fiber link.

2. Why use G.657.A2 fiber instead of standard G.652.D?

G.657.A2 is a bend-insensitive fiber. It can be bent and routed in much tighter loops (down to a 7.5mm radius) with significantly less signal degradation compared to standard G.652.D fiber. This makes it far superior for high-density racks, wall-mount boxes, and any installation where cables might be subject to stress or tight bends.

3. Why does this single-mode cable use LC/UPC instead of LC/APC?

While LC/APC (Angled Physical Contact) is often preferred for single-mode to minimize back reflection (RL ≥60dB), LC/UPC (Ultra Physical Contact, RL ≥50dB) is still widely used. It may be specified for cost-sensitive projects, for systems that are less susceptible to back reflection, or to maintain consistency and compatibility with existing equipment that already uses UPC interfaces.

4. How does this cable support a 100G PSM4 breakout?

100G PSM4 (Parallel Single Mode 4-lane) transmits and receives data over 8 single-mode fibers (4 transmit, 4 receive) within a 12-fiber MTP® connector. This fanout cable separates these 8 active fibers into four LC duplex pairs. Each LC pair can then be connected to a 25G SFP28 transceiver, effectively breaking a single 100G port into four 25G links.

5. Is this cable backwards compatible with G.652.D fiber?

Yes, G.657.A2 fiber is fully backwards compatible and can be seamlessly spliced or connected to standard G.652.D single-mode fiber infrastructure without any performance issues.

6. What is the benefit of an MTP® Elite connector?

MTP® Elite is a premium-grade connector manufactured to the highest precision standards, resulting in a guaranteed ultra-low insertion loss of 0.35dB or less. This is significantly better than a standard MTP® connector (up to 0.75dB IL) and helps preserve the power budget for reliable performance, especially in links with multiple connection points.