Fiber Types and Typical Specifications

(OM/OS refers to TIA types, B refers to IEC types, G refers to ITU types)
Core/Cladding Attenuation Bandwidth Applications/Notes
Multimode Graded-Index
@850/1300 @850/1300
nm nm
50/125
500/500 MHz-
microns (OM2, 3/1 dB/km Laser-rated for GbE LANs
km
G.651.1)
50/125
1500/500 Optimized for 850 nm
microns (OM3, 2.5/0.8 dB/km
MHz-km VCSELs
G.651.1)
50/125
3500/500 Optimized for 850 nm
microns (OM4, 2.5/0.8 dB/km
MHz-km VCSELs, higher speed
G.651.1)
Wideband MMF, optimized for
50/125 3500/500
2.5/0.8 dB/km WDM 850-950 nm VCSELs,
microns (OM5) MHz-km
higher speed
62.5/125 160-200/500
3/1 dB/km LAN fiber
microns (OM1) MHz-km
100/140 150/300 MHz-
3/1 dB/km Obsolete
microns km
Singlemode
@1310/1550
nm*
Singlemode fiber, most
common for Telco/CATV/high
speed LANs. OS1 is a
9/125 HIGH!
0.4/0.25 designation of TIA-568 for SM
microns (OS1 ~100
dB/km fiber cabled for premises use
B1.1 or G.652) Terahertz
that has higher attenuation -
1dB/km. All SM fiber appears
to be low water peak fiber.
Low water peak fiber. OS2 is
9/125 HIGH!
0.4/0.25 a designation of TIA-568 for
microns (OS2, ~100
dB/km SM fiber cabled for
B1.2 or G.652) Terahertz
outdoor use.
9/125 HIGH!
0.4/0.25
microns (B2 or ~100 Dispersion shifted fiber
dB/km
G.653) Terahertz
 9/125 HIGH!
0.4/0.25
microns (B1.2 ~100 Cutoff shifted fiber
dB/km
or G.654) Terahertz
9/125 HIGH!
0.4/0.25 Non-zero dispersion shifted
microns (B4 or ~100
dB/km fiber
G.655) Terahertz
HIGH!
9/125 microns 0.4/0.25
~100 Bend-insensitive fiber
(G.657) dB/km
Terahertz
Multimode Step-Index
@850 nm @850 nm
200/240
4-6 dB/km 50 MHz-km Slow LANs & links
microns
POF (plastic optical fiber)
@ 650 nm @ 650 nm
1 mm ~ 1 dB/m ~5 MHz-km Short Links & Cars