OPTICAL FIBER IN KENYA
Before the development of the Gigabit Ethernet standard, there wasn’t that much discussion about what type of multimode fiber to install. Most fiber-based networks today deploy 62.5/125-micron Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI)-grade multimode fiber in their backbones and risers and, in some cases, all the way to the workstation. However, as backbone speeds have increased, new questions have surfaced about the differences between 62.5- and 50-micron multimode fibers. Users want to know which fiber is better for their applications and what factors to consider when they choose the cable for their networks.
Which fiber is better?
The answer depends on the parameters of the network: the applications the network will need to support over the next few years and the length of the links. It also depends on whether you are evaluating fiber for a new installation or planning to upgrade from an installed base.
The good news is that both types of multimode fiber available today offer the bandwidth to support such protocols as Ethernet, Token Ring, and FDDI over the distances specified in the application standards. Both multimode fibers have proven performance over decades of use. Physically, these fibers have the same cladding diameter and virtually identical mechanical properties. Operationally, the fibers provide similar bandwidth at 1,300 nm. The standards bodies accept both fibers, and both offer migration paths up to gigabit-level speeds. However, there are some important differences that will affect the migration paths to higher speed and distance goals.
The differences
In terms of physical properties, the difference between these two fiber types is the diameter of the core-the light-carrying region of the fiber-signified by the numeric nomenclature. In 62.5/125 fiber, for example, the core has a diameter of 62.5 microns and the cladding diameter is 125 microns.
In terms of performance, the difference lies in the fibers’ bandwidth, or information-carrying capacity, and in the power-coupling efficiency to light-emitting-diode (LED) sources. Bandwidth is actually specified as a bandwidth-distance product with units of MHz-km. The bandwidth needed to support an application depends on the data rate. As the data rate goes up (MHz), the distance that rate can be transmitted (km) goes down. Thus, a higher fiber bandwidth can enable you to transmit at higher data rates or for longer distances. Therefore, 50-micron multimode fiber offers nearly three times more bandwidth (500 MHz-km) than FDDI-grade 62.5-micron fiber (160 MHz-km) at 850 nm. However, the smaller core of 50-micron fiber can cause a reduction in power budget for LED-based applications.
So, while fiber bandwidth is a critical factor in determining link length and data rate, it is not the only one. Transmitter and receiver characteristics also play a critical role. Any statements on the distance capabilities of a particular fiber must be made in the context of the full suite of specifications for a given application. For 850-nm Gigabit Ethernet, these bandwidth values support link lengths of 220 meters over 62.5-micron fiber and 550 meters over 50-micron fiber.
Thus, 50/125 is more suitable for fiber backbones running Gigabit Ethernet and higher-speed protocols over longer distances. Either fiber provides sufficient bandwidth for cable lengths up to 300 meters. For many users, that includes their building backbones as well as the horizontal cabling portion of their networks. There are several new 62.5-micron fibers that provide 300-meter-and even up to 500-meter-guarantees for Gigabit Ethernet.
Upgrading the installed base
If you have an installed base of FDDI-grade 62.5/125 fiber, you have an infrastructure with bandwidth capabilities to support applications up to 155 Mbits/sec over distances of 2 km. If, however, you need to exceed the standard capabilities of your infrastructure, you have several migration paths open to you. As discussed earlier, Gigabit Ethernet already supports the use of 62.5-micron multimode fiber at distances of up to 550 meters using 1,300-nm lasers. While this is not the lowest-cost laser option, you should evaluate it against the costs of recabling all, or part of, a network.
New builds
If you are deploying fiber in a new installation, you have several options. You should start by evaluating the system’s data rate and distance requirements. For applications where the link lengths are as long as 550 meters and gigabit-level speeds will be needed, 50/125 fiber offers a cabling infrastructure that supports both short-wavelength (SX) and long-wavelength (LX) solutions, making it a cost-effective choice with excellent upgradability.
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