Fiber-optic patch cords supporting 5G data speeds being pushed

Future releases of fiber-optic cords will pair widely used MPO plugs with OM5 cables for high-speed broadband networks.

Fiber-optic patch cords have been trending toward termination and cable solutions that can handle 5G download and upload speeds. In China, makers plan to continue taking advantage of demand for units with MPO connectors, which are forecast to become mainstream in 40G and 100G networks.

Suppliers are also noting the increasing adoption of OM5 cables, and have lined this up on their agenda. Such multimode products support up to 100Gbps transmission speed. These can carry as many as four wavelengths, each at 850/1,300nm, and have an effective mode bandwidth of 6,000MHz-km on 850nm. The type, which is backward-compatible with earlier generations OM3 and OM4, can fully meet requirements in 5G and future networks.

Manufacturers such as Gorelink Communication (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd, Cixi Dongyi and Shanghai Tailu have already introduced OM5 variants. The last supplier's model is terminated with MPO connectors.

At present, widely available fiber-optic patch cords from domestic enterprises have MPO plugs and two to 12 fiber strands, with 12-strand kinds dominating output. For high-density and integrated applications such as FTTx, 40/100G SFP and SFP+, some companies are targeting 24-strand cables.

China is the largest producer in the line. Its total sales value has been growing at 10 to 15 percent annually, a trend likely to persist through 2021. This will be driven by 5G deployment, which is expected to be wider as bandwidth needs expand with the dramatic increase in remote work.

Buoyed by this outlook, most companies will continue to boost their production. Gorelink and Shenzhen Optostar Optoelectronics Co. Ltd did so by 40 percent in the past year and will sustain expansion.

The majority of suppliers send a portion of yield to overseas markets, varying in ratios of 30 to 90 percent. They forecast shipments will rise by 10 to 15 percent in the next one or two years.

More than 80 percent of the manufacturers in China are locally owned, and most are small and midsize operations. The key companies include Yangtze Optical Fiber and Cable, FiberHome and Wuhan Putian.

Besides fiber-optic patch cords, a number are engaged in the production of optical fibers and connectors, and fiber-optic cables.

The largest optical devices and laser production base in China, the Optics Valley in Wuhan in Hubei province accounts for 66 percent of the country's shipments of optical fibers and fiber-optic cables, and 25 percent of the worldwide volume. The major suppliers in the specialized industrial zone include China Information and Communication Technology, Yangtze Optic Fiber and Cable, and HG Tech.

The other manufacturing areas are in Shenzhen and Dongguan in Guangdong province, Suzhou in Jiangsu and Ningbo in Zhejiang.

More players entering the line are expected to flock to these production hubs.

Single-, multimode choices

China's mainstream range of fiber-optic patch cords consists of single- and multimode types in variants with one, two, four, six, eight and 12 fiber strands, and FC, SC, ST, LC, MT-RJ, MU, SMA, E2000 and MPO connectors. These have PC, UPC and APC end faces.

Leading shipments are ST-to-ST, SC-to-SC and ST-to-SC kinds.

Some of the optical fibers used are G652B, G652D, G655, G657A1, G657A2, 50.125, 62.5/125, OM3 and OM4.

Most makers obtain materials and components from the local supply. For MPO plugs, they also turn to foreign providers.

The cost of manufacturing inputs has been stable and kept product prices steady. The majority forecasts no change in this trend until end-2020.

The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our China-based market analyst for representing current trends in fiber-optic patch from China makers.

Duplex fiber-optic patch cord

Gorelink Communication (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd's GL-PC55LCLCDX2P-1 model is an LC UPC-to-LC UPC duplex multimode fiber-optic patch cord that adopts an OM5 cable with a flame-retardant jacket. It is compliant with RoHS, TIA-604 (FOCIS), TIA/EIA 492AAAE, IEC 61754, IEC 60793-2-10, IEC 61300-3-35 and YD/T 1272.1-2003 standards.

The minimum order is 1m for delivery within 3 days.

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Simplex fiber-optic patch cord

This 3m simplex fiber-optic patch cord from Shenzhen ADP Optical Communication Co. Ltd, Fiber Patch Cord-19 model, adopts LC, SC, FC or ST connectors and G652D 9/125 single-mode fiber. It meets Telecordia GR-326-Core, IEC and RoHS specifications.

The maker requires a minimum order of 500 units. Delivery lead time is 5 days.

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Fiber-optic patch cord in single-, multimode types

The fiber-optic patch cord offered by Shenzhen Aipeng Network Technology Co. Ltd, APPC-101-038 model, has LC, SC, DC or ST connectors, 9/125, 50/125 or 62.5/125µm fiber and PVC or LSZH jacket. It comes in 3, 5, 10, 20, 30m or custom lengths and has 0.9, 2 or 3mm cable diameter. In single- and multimode variants, the unit has ≤0.2dB insertion loss and more than 39dB return loss. The operating temperature is -40 to 75 C.

An order of at least 1,000 units is for delivery in 7 days.

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Fiber-optic patch cord has MPO, MTP connectors

The model OP-MPPC-2781 fiber-optic patch cord with MPO or MTP connectors from Shenzhen Optostar Optoelectronics Co. Ltd suits horizontal patch extension, high-density fiber management, DACS, LAN and WAN applications. The fiber options are 9/125 single-mode, 50 or 62.5/125 multimode and 10Gb with 8, 12 or 24 fiber count. The unit meets RoHS and Telecordia GR-1435 CORE standards.

The 10-unit minimum order is delivered within 3 days.

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