Female MTP® Elite to LC/UPC Fanout | Base-24 | Single Mode G657.A2 | 3.0/1.8mm

Overview

The Female MTP® to LC UPC Fanout Cable provides a scalable and reliable solution for distributing high-density single-mode fiber connections. This assembly features a Female MTP® Elite connector (no pins) on one end, designed to mate with male MPO/MTP® connectors on backbone trunk cables. The cable then breaks out into 24 individual simplex LC UPC (Ultra Physical Contact) connectors, enabling straightforward integration with standard data center and telecom equipment.

Constructed with superior G.657.A2 bend-insensitive single-mode fiber, this 24 fiber fanout cable is exceptionally resilient to signal degradation from bending and tight routing. The combination of a genuine MTP® Elite connector and precision-polished LC UPC terminations ensures very low insertion loss and reliable return loss performance, making it an excellent choice for high-speed digital transmission in enterprise and data center networks.

Key Features

• Female Connector for Mating: Features a female (no pins) MTP® connector, designed for connecting to male MPO/MTP® trunk cables or ports.
• High-Density Distribution: Efficiently splits one 24-fiber MTP® connection into 24 simplex LC UPC connections.
• Elite Low Loss Performance: Utilizes a genuine MTP® Elite connector for minimal insertion loss, preserving critical link budget.
• Bend-Insensitive G.657.A2 Fiber: Ensures reliable performance even when routed in tight spaces and around sharp corners in racks and enclosures.
• High-Performance LC UPC Connectors: Equipped with standard blue LC UPC connectors, offering low back reflection and proven performance for digital systems.
• Organized & Scalable: Simplifies cable management by replacing numerous individual patch cords with a single, streamlined assembly.

Applications

This cable is the ideal interface between high-density backbone cabling and active equipment. Its female MTP® connector allows it to extend male MTP® trunks, breaking out the 24 fibers for patching into standard LC ports on transceivers, patch panels, or other hardware. It is perfectly suited for:

• Data Center Interconnects and Cross-Connects
• Enterprise and Campus Backbone Networks
• Telecommunication Distribution Frames
• High-Performance Computing (HPC) Clusters
• Storage Area Networks (SAN)

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®-24 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 this cable is its ability to create a flexible, modular connection point in a single-mode network. The female MTP® end allows for easy connection to pre-installed male backbone cables, simplifying network maintenance and upgrades. The use of G.657.A2 bend-insensitive fiber significantly enhances installation reliability, while the industry-standard LC UPC connectors provide the excellent performance ($RL ≥50\text{dB}$) required for the vast majority of digital data transmission applications in a cost-effective and widely available format.

FAQ (Technical & Product Questions)

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

MPO/MTP® systems require a male-to-female connection. A female MTP® connector (with guide holes) is used to connect to a male MTP® connector (with guide pins). This cable is designed to plug into a male-terminated trunk cable or a male port on a patch panel or device.

2. What is the difference between LC UPC and LC APC connectors?

The difference is in the polish of the fiber end-face. LC UPC (Ultra Physical Contact) connectors are polished with no angle, creating a slightly domed surface for direct contact. They have blue housings and offer a return loss of ≥50dB. LC APC (Angled Physical Contact) connectors have an 8-degree angled end-face, have green housings, and provide a superior return loss of ≥60dB. UPC is standard for most digital systems, while APC is critical for RF/video and long-haul systems highly sensitive to back reflection.

3. What is the benefit of G.657.A2 fiber over standard G.652.D fiber?

While both are single-mode fibers, G.657.A2 is “bend-insensitive.” It is engineered to handle very tight bend radii (as low as 7.5mm) with minimal signal loss, making it perfect for high-density racks, wall boxes, and complex routing paths where standard fiber would suffer performance degradation.

4. What does Base-24 mean for this cable?

Base-24 indicates that the MTP® connector utilizes all 24 available fibers. This fanout cable “breaks out” those 24 fibers into 24 individual simplex LC connectors, allowing every fiber in the high-density link to be used independently.

5. Can I use this cable to connect 12 duplex devices?

Yes. Although the cable terminates in 24 simplex LC connectors, you can pair them up (e.g., fiber 1 and 2, fiber 3 and 4) to create 12 duplex channels for connecting to 12 devices that require separate transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) paths, such as SFP+ transceivers.

6. What is the difference between MPO and MTP®?

MPO (Multi-fiber Push-On) is the industry standard connector type. MTP® is a specific, high-performance brand of MPO connector developed by US Conec. It includes patented features, like a floating ferrule and elliptical guide pins, that provide enhanced mechanical stability and more reliable optical performance.

7. Is this single-mode cable compatible with multi-mode fiber (OM3/OM4)?

Absolutely not. Single-mode (9/125µm core) and multi-mode (50/125µm core) fibers have different core sizes and are fundamentally incompatible. Mixing them will lead to extreme signal loss and complete link failure. The yellow jacket signifies single-mode use only.

8. Can I mix UPC and APC connectors in the same link?

No. You should never mate a UPC connector with an APC connector. The physical mismatch between the flat/domed UPC end-face and the angled APC end-face will cause poor performance and can permanently damage both connectors.