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

Overview

The Male MTP® to LC UPC Fanout Cable is an essential component for deploying high-density, multi-mode fiber networks. This assembly features a Male MTP® Elite connector (with pins) on one end, designed to plug directly into female MPO/MTP® ports on QSFP+ transceivers, distribution cassettes, or patch panels. The cable then breaks out into 12 individual simplex LC UPC (Ultra Physical Contact) connectors, enabling seamless integration with standard SFP+ and other LC-interfaced equipment.

Constructed with high-performance, laser-optimized OM4 multi-mode fiber, this 12 fiber fanout cable is engineered to support high-speed data transmission, including 40G (40GBASE-SR4) and 100G Ethernet applications. The combination of a genuine low-loss MTP® Elite connector and high-quality LC UPC terminations ensures excellent signal integrity and minimal insertion loss, preserving critical link budget in modern data centers and enterprise networks.

Key Features

• Male Connector for Direct Connection: Features a male (with pins) MTP® connector, designed to plug directly into female MPO/MTP® ports on transceivers and panels.
• High-Density Breakout: Efficiently splits a 12-fiber (Base-12) MTP® connection into 12 simplex LC UPC connections.
• Elite Low Loss Performance: Utilizes a genuine MTP® Elite connector for minimal insertion loss (IL ≤ 0.35dB), maximizing link performance.
• Optimized for High Speeds: Built with OM4 50/125µm fiber, providing the bandwidth needed for 40G and 100G data rates over extended distances.
• Industry-Standard LC Connectors: Equipped with reliable LC UPC connectors for broad compatibility with network hardware.
• Streamlined Cable Management: Simplifies connectivity and reduces clutter by replacing multiple individual patch cords with a single, managed assembly.

Applications

This cable is the perfect solution for breaking out a parallel optic link into individual channels for connection to discrete devices. It is commonly used to connect a 40G QSFP+ transceiver to four 10G SFP+ transceivers. Its primary applications include:

• Data Center 40G to 10G Breakout (40GBASE-SR4)
• 100G to 25G Breakout Architectures
• High-Density Backbone to Equipment Patching
• Storage Area Networks (SAN) and Fibre Channel
• High-Performance Computing (HPC) Interconnects

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 key advantage of this Male MTP® fanout is its ability to directly bridge high-density parallel optics with lower-speed serial optics. The male MTP® end plugs straight into a QSFP+ port, and the LC ends connect to SFP+ ports, enabling a cost-effective 40G-to-4x10G migration path. Using OM4 fiber extends the reach of these high-speed links compared to OM3, and the MTP® Elite connector ensures that the maximum amount of power budget is conserved for the link itself, not lost at the connector.

FAQ (Technical & Product Questions)

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

A male MTP® connector (with guide pins) is used to plug into a female MTP® port. These female ports are typically found on active equipment like QSFP+ transceivers and on MTP® adapter panels and cassettes. This cable is designed for direct connection to such devices.

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 support a 40G to 4x10G breakout?

A 40GBASE-SR4 signal uses 8 of the 12 fibers in a Base-12 MTP® connector (4 for transmitting, 4 for receiving). This breakout cable, when wired with the correct polarity (typically Type B), maps these 8 active fibers to four pairs of LC connectors, each pair forming a complete 10G channel (1 Tx, 1 Rx).

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

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

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 (which can be 0.6dB or higher) and is critical for high-speed links where every decibel of power matters.

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. Can I use this OM4 cable with OM3 equipment?

Yes, OM4 is backward compatible with OM3. If you connect an OM4 cable to an OM3 link, the entire link will perform to the lower OM3 specification. However, using OM4 provides a clear upgrade path for the future.

8. Is this cable compatible with single-mode fiber (OS2)?

Absolutely not. Multi-mode (50/125µm core, aqua jacket) and single-mode (9/125µm core, yellow jacket) fibers have different core sizes and are fundamentally incompatible. Mixing them will cause the link to fail.