FAQ

There are numerous of advantages in fiber optic cabling in the data center. In general, fiber optics provides higher bandwidth and speed, which has been necessitated by increasing demand and requirements of storage and bandwidth. Olabs can provide you with a customized solution for your fiber optic connectivity.

Singlemode fiber has a smaller fiber core, typically at 9µm in diameter, and typically used for transmitting data over longer distances. Multimode fiber has a larger fiber core, typically at 50µm or 62.5µm in diameter and ideal for shorter distances. The IEEE802.3ba has specified OM3 and OM4 multimode as the preferred fiber for use in 40G and 100G transmission.

All of them are types of Multimode optical fiber. For OM1, its size of core / cladding is 62.5µm / 125µm. And for OM2, OM3 & OM4, its size of core / cladding are 50µm / 125µm. Both OM1 & OM2 were widely deployed in premises applications for many years which support maximum 1GB Ethernet transmission. OM3 & OM4 fiber cables are typically used in data center structured cabling environments for high speeds of 10G or even 40/100 Gigabit Ethernet.

Bend-insensitive fiber cables are designed for improved bend performance in reduced-radius applications. It allows for sharp bends in fiber cabling without inducing additional losses. They are recommended in tight areas of deployments with wide varieties of applications, including FTTH, enterprise networks, and high density environment such as data center.

Insertion loss is an important performance indicator of a fiber optic interconnection. This is the loss of light signal, measured in decibels (dB), during the insertion of a fiber optic connector.
Return loss is the loss of light signal that is reflected back to the original light source.
At Olabs, we ensure that your fiber cabling items and assemblies will meet the most stringent insertion loss and return loss requirement you need. Our leadership in fiber optic technology allows you to control the loss of every single interconnection.

The MPO connector is a multi-fiber connector that stands for “Multi-Fiber Push On” connector. It presents a high-density solution, accommodating up to 72 fibers in one MPO connector, saving you precious space in the data centre.

Polarity is the term used in the TIA-568 standard to explain how each transmitter of a fiber is connected to a receiver on the other end of a multi-fiber cable. According to TIA-568 Rev.C.0, it defines 3 typical polarity methods when working with 12-fiber MPO connectors: Straight Polarity, Pair Flipped Polarity and Cross Polarity. Olabs FiberFlex™ solution offers Straight Polarity as standard offering, Pair Flipped Polariy and Cross Polarity will be provided upon client request.

Yes, with Olabs’ FiberFlex™ portfolio, you can enjoy the flexibility of customization to your exact needs. You may specify connector ends, cable lengths, cable & fiber types, polarity and even specific staggered lengths to each individual connector.

All of them are referred to cable jacket rating for different flame-retardant material. OFNP is known as plenum and intended for installations where cables are routed through an air handling conduit. It complies with NFPA-262 and UL-910 and has the highest fire retardant rating. OFNR stands for Riser cable and complies with UL-1666. It is defined for usage in vertical tray applications such as cable runs between floors through cable risers or in elevator shafts. Cables with LSZH jacket are intended for applications where both low smoke and low corrosive gases are needed. It has feature of limited smoke and no halogens when exposed to heat for toxic prevention purpose.

Ingress Protection (IP) rating classifies and rates the degree of environment protection furnished against the invasion of solid objects, dust, accidental contact and water with enclosures.

Ingress protected products are often given a rating of "IP". Take Olabs FiberTough™ series - ODVA compliant IP68 MPO & LC Assemblies as an example, IP68 signifies that the product is completely protected against dust, and will not be damaged over a specific period (at least over 30 minutes) of immersion under pressure.