What Is MTP®® Connector?
MTP®® is a registered trademark of US Conec, which is the acronym for Multi-fiber Termination Push-on. When it comes to MTP®® connectors in daily operations, MPO connector is often seen as an interchangeable term. Though MTP®® brand connectors are fully compliant with MPO standards and are fully compatible with MPO brand connectors, nevertheless, MTP®® connectors are not totally the same as MPO connectors. Different from MPO which is a standardized interface type, MTP®® can be regarded as one high-performance version of MPO connector. MTP®® connectors are able to provide quick connection for up to 72 optical fibers, among which 8 fibers, 12 fibers and 24 fibers are the most common types. These connectors can join in different cables to become MTP®® trunk cables such as 24-fiber MTP®® to MTP®® trunk cable or MTP®®-LC harness cables, or they can be used to terminate links on cassettes in fiber patch panels through adapters. The components of an MTP®® cable connector are illustrated below.
Figure 1: Deconstruction of MTP®® fiber connector
Seen with the naked eye, there is very little difference between MTP®® connectors and MPO connectors. Both the MPO and MTP®® connectors have variants of 12/24/48/72-fiber connectors and have a key on one side of the connector body as well as male and female plug type. However, compared with standard MPO connectors, MTP®® connectors offer novel patented features and significant performance improvements.
Figure 2: Female MPO connector vs Female MTP®® connector
FAQ – MTP® Connector (Multifiber Termination Push‑on)
What is the difference between MTP® and MPO connectors?
MTP® is a high-performance version of MPO developed by US Conec. It offers improved ferrule polish geometry, better guide-pin precision, and lower insertion loss (typically <0.35 dB). Both are fully intermateable under IEC 61754-7.
What does MTP® stand for and how does it work?
MTP® stands for Multifiber Termination Push-on. It uses a rectangular ferrule holding 12 to 72 fibers aligned through push-pull mechanics, enabling high-density parallel optical connections used in QSFP and data center infrastructure.
What are the key standards governing MTP® connectors?
MTP® connectors comply with IEC 61754-7 and TIA-604-5 (FOCIS 5) interface standards, GR-1435-CORE for high-density optical reliability, and TIA-568-C.3 for polarity management. Performance testing follows GR-326-CORE and IEC 61300 series.
What are the available fiber counts and polarity options for MTP® connectors?
MTP® connectors are available in 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72-fiber versions with polarity types A, B, and C to ensure correct Tx/Rx alignment. They can be ordered as male (pinned) or female (unpinned) versions.
How is MTP® connector performance measured?
Per GR-1435-CORE and IEC 61300, insertion loss should be <0.35 dB typical and return loss >60 dB for single-mode APC interfaces. Performance is validated through mechanical, thermal, and durability tests exceeding GR-326 limits.
When should I choose an MTP® connector for my network?
MTP® connectors are ideal for high-density data center links (40G, 100G, 400G), pre-terminated trunk cables, and modular cassette systems requiring quick installation and scalability.
