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All OM2, OM3, OM4, OM5 are 50/125μm multimode fiber (MMF).
They differ mainly in bandwidth, transmission distance, high-speed rate support, wavelength adaptation and application scenarios. Performance upgrades in order: OM2 → OM3 → OM4 → OM5.
Core Parameter Comparison
| Parameter | OM2 | OM3 | OM4 | OM5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber Core/Cladding | 50/125μm | 50/125μm | 50/125μm | 50/125μm |
| Standard Released | 1990 | 2002 | 2009 | 2016 |
| Bandwidth @850nm | 500 MHz·km | 2000 MHz·km | 4700 MHz·km | 4700 MHz·km |
| Light Source | LED | VCSEL Laser Optimized | Enhanced VCSEL | VCSEL / SWDM Broadband |
| Jacket Color | Orange | Aqua Green | Aqua Green/Magenta | Lime Green / Aqua Green |
| 10G Transmission | 82m | 300m | 550m | 550m |
| 40G / 100G | Not supported | 100m | 150m | 150m (Longer with SWDM) |
| Technology | Traditional MMF | Laser-Optimized LOMMF | Low DMD High Bandwidth | WBMMF + SWDM |
| Wavelength Range | 850nm / 1300nm | 850nm | 850nm | 850–940nm |
Detailed Introduction
OM2
- Position: Legacy basic 50μm multimode fiber
- Performance: Low bandwidth, only suitable for 1G network; very short distance for 10G
- Application: Old campus network, legacy system compatibility; phased out in modern data centers
- Color: Orange
OM3
- Position: First-generation laser-optimized multimode fiber (LOMMF) for VCSEL
- Performance: 4× bandwidth of OM2; 10G up to 300m, 40G/100G up to 100m
- Application: Small & medium data centers, mainstream 10G cabling
- Color: Aqua Green
OM4
- Position: Enhanced upgraded version of OM3, lower DMD, higher stability
- Performance: Double bandwidth vs OM3; 10G up to 550m, 40G/100G up to 150m
- Application: Mainstream choice for large data centers, long-distance high-speed links
- Color: Aqua Green/Magenta
OM5
- Position: Latest Wideband Multimode Fiber (WBMMF)
- Core advantage: Supports SWDM (Short Wavelength Division Multiplexing)
- Covers 850/880/910/940nm wavelength range
- Realizes 100G/200G over single fiber, saves cabling quantity and cost
- Application: Hyper-scale data centers, high-density 100G/200G deployment
- Color: Lime Green
Key Summary
- Performance ranking: OM2 < OM3 < OM4 < OM5
- Cost ranking: OM2 < OM3 < OM4 < OM5
- Compatibility: OM3/OM4/OM5 are physically compatible; performance limited by the lowest-grade fiber in the link.
Selection Guide
- Legacy network renovation: Choose OM2
- Small & medium 10G cabling: Choose OM3 (cost-effective)
- Large data center 40G/100G long run: Choose OM4
- High-density 100G/200G & fiber-saving deployment: Choose OM5
