MTP or MPO? How to Choose?

MPO vs MTP
 

MPO stands for “Multi-fiber Push On”, which is a type of fiber optic connector developed by NTT Japan during the 1980s. It was developed to provide a multi Fiber connectivity in one connector to support higher bandwidth and higher density applications. 12 and 24 fiber MPO are the most popular types and currently used to connect 40G and 100G transceiver modules. 48 to 72 are possible but with limited applications. The next format due will be 16 & 32 Fiber required for 400Gb applications.
 

MTP is a trademark of MPO connector owned by US Conec. It is a high performance MPO connector with multiple engineered product enhancements to improve optical and mechanical performance when compared to generic MPO connectors. MTP connector is fully compliant with MPO standards of IEC-61754-7 and TIA-604-5(FOCIS5). All MTPs are MPOs but not all MPOs are MTPs.

What is an MTP Elite?

The Elite version offers lower insertion loss compared to the standard MTP. The maximum for a mated pair is 0.35db vs 0.6db for Multimode, and 0.35db vs 0.75db for Singlemode Fiber. 
 

What's the advantages of MTP connector comparing with MPO connector?
 

The MTP connector has features and benefits that are not available on generic MPO connectors. Some of the key distinctions include:

 1. The MTP connector has a removable housing. This feature allows the customer to re-work and re-polish the MT ferrule, change the gender after assembly or even in the field, and scan the ferrule interferometrically after assembly.

2. The MTP has a floating ferrule to improve mechanical performance. This allows two mated ferrules to maintain physical contact while under an applied load.

3. The MTP connector uses tightly held tolerance stainless steel elliptical guide pin tips. This improves guidance and reduces guide hole wear.

4. The MTP connector has a metal pin clamp with features for centering the push spring. This feature eliminates lost pins, centers spring force and eliminates fiber damage from spring.

5. The MTP connector spring design maximizes ribbon clearance for twelve Fiber and multi-Fiber ribbon applications to prevent Fiber damage.

6. The MTP connector is offered with four strain relief boot variations to meet a wide array of applications.

If you are looking for multi-fiber cable for data center or telecommunication applications, you can choose either MPO or MTP, and they are 100% compatible.