This guide explains the five generations of multimode fiber - OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4, and OM5 - covering their physical characteristics, color coding, bandwidth, maximum distances at different data rates, optical sources (LED, VCSEL, SWDM), and real-world applications in. Multi-mode optical fiber is a type of optical fiber mostly used for communication over short distances, such as within a building or on a campus. Multimode Fiber (MMF) has a core diameter, typically 50–100 micrometers, has ability to transfer multiple modes of light through the fiber core, uses lower-cost electronics (LED, VCSEL) operates at the 850 nm and 1300 nm wavelength and is used for short distance interconnections (up to 550m). While single-mode fiber (SMF) dominates long-distance and carrier-grade infrastructure, multimode fiber remains the most cost-efficient and practical choice for enterprise buildings.
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