OM5 > OM4 > OM3 > OM2 > OM1, ranked by bandwidth, distance, and suitability for modern high-speed indoor networks.

Overview of Multimode Fiber Types

Multimode fibers (MMF) are designed for short- to medium-range indoor applications, such as data centers, enterprise LANs, and campus networks. They have larger core diameters (50 µm or 62.5 µm) allowing multiple light modes to propagate simultaneously, which makes them cost-effective for high-speed connections using LED or VCSEL sources .

Ranking and Key Characteristics

1. OM5 (Lime Green Jacket)
   • Core Size: 50 µm
   • Bandwidth: Wideband multimode fiber (supports Short Wavelength Division Multiplexing, SWDM)
   • Max Distance: 150m+ at 100 Gbps
   • Optical Source: VCSEL, SWDM
   • Use Case: Future-proof high-speed data centers, 400G+ Ethernet, and applications requiring multiple wavelengths over a single fiber
2. OM4 (Aqua Jacket)
   • Core Size: 50 µm
   • Bandwidth: Laser-optimized for VCSEL
   • Max Distance: 550m at 10 Gbps, 150m at 100 Gbps
   • Use Case: High-performance enterprise networks and data centers; supports 10G, 25G, 40G, and 100G Ethernet
3. OM3 (Aqua Jacket)
   • Core Size: 50 µm
   • Bandwidth: Laser-optimized for VCSEL
   • Max Distance: 300m at 10 Gbps, 100m at 40/100 Gbps
   • Use Case: Cost-effective option for 10G/25G networks; suitable for moderate-distance data center links
4. OM2 (Orange Jacket)
   • Core Size: 50 µm
   • Bandwidth: LED-based, limited for high-speed applications
   • Max Distance: 82m at 10 Gbps, commonly used for 1 Gbps
   • Use Case: Legacy networks or cost-sensitive installations; not ideal for modern high-speed links
5. OM1 (Orange Jacket)
   • Core Size: 62.5 µm
   • Bandwidth: LED-based, lowest performance
   • Max Distance: 33m at 10 Gbps, 275m at 1 Gbps
   • Use Case: Obsolete for 10G+ networks; suitable only for legacy 100 Mbps or 1 Gbps applications

Summary

• OM5 is the most advanced multimode fiber, supporting wideband, multi-wavelength transmission for future-proof high-speed networks.
• OM4 and OM3 are laser-optimized and widely used in modern data centers, with OM4 offering longer reach.
• OM2 and OM1 are legacy fibers, suitable for older or cost-sensitive networks but limited in bandwidth and distance.
• Color coding helps identify fiber type: OM1/OM2 (orange), OM3/OM4 (aqua), OM5 (lime green). Selecting the right multimode indoor optical cable depends on required data rate, distance, budget, and future scalability. For new installations aiming at 10G and beyond, OM3, OM4, or OM5 are recommended, with OM5 being the most future-proof option .