What is The Difference Between MTP-8/12/24

MTP patch cords are widely recognized in fiber optic communications because of their high density and versatility, as they can ensure the performance and efficiency of device connections. With the rapid development of network technology and the growing demand for network bandwidth, MTP patch cords are also being paid more and more attention and used. This article will help you to understand the three types of MTP connectors, including MTP-8, MTP-12, and MTP-24.

Details About MTP-8

MTP-8 is not a strictly standard recognized interface. It uses 8 of the 12 fibers of the MTP-12 connector. 4 are used to transmit signals, and the other 4 are used to receive signals. MTP-8 is commonly used in 40G and 100G applications. During use, only the 8 fibers on the outermost side of the connector are used, namely 1-4 and 9-12. The 4 fiber positions in the middle are not applicable, which can avoid unnecessary fiber waste. The unused 4 fibers can be used as redundant fibers or provide flexibility for future upgrades. Especially in QSFP applications, because it is common in parallel to parallel form, this MTP fiber can achieve 100% fiber transmission utilization. MTP-8 can also branch into 4 LC duplex connectors to reach 40G to 4x 10G applications. MTP-8 can significantly bring efficient fiber utilization, reduce wiring costs, and simplify wiring structure.

MTP-12 Connector Overview

MTP-12 is an MTP connector based on 12 optical fibers for multi-channel transmission. Each optical fiber can transmit or receive data independently. Due to its wide application in various fields of optical fiber communication, it can adapt to multimode and single-mode optical fibers, which makes it an interface recognized by strict standards in the industry. Compared with MTP-8, it can provide higher density. The 4 optical fibers in the middle can be combined to provide additional QSFP 8-core ports so that the optical fiber can be more utilized. Compared with MTP-24, although MTP-24 provides higher density, its cost is too high and is not suitable for large-scale deployment. Therefore, the MTP-12 connector, which balances cost-effectiveness and performance, has become the most widely used connector at present and is usually suitable for large-scale enterprise networks, data centers, and high-speed Ethernet networks that require high-density wiring.

Explore MTP-24 Connector

MTP-24 is a high-density fiber optic connector with 24 optical fibers, designed for high-density and high-bandwidth applications. It can simultaneously transmit data in multiple channels, supports full-duplex communication, and can transmit and receive data at the same time. Like MTP-12, it supports parallel optical transmission, and each channel can work independently, which enables MTP-24 to transmit huge amounts of data at the same time. In QSFP applications, it can achieve a 3-fold increase in panel density compared to MTP-8, and an 8-fold increase in panel density compared to MTP-12. In addition to density, MTP-24 supports higher bandwidth. With the increasing demand for network bandwidth, MTP-24 is undoubtedly the best choice for future high-bandwidth needs. And because of its high density, the number of connectors required for 400G network connections is significantly lower than that of MTP-12 and MTP-8, which can simplify the wiring structure and facilitate future operation and maintenance.

Difference Between MTP-8, MTP-12 and MTP-24

MTP-8, MTP-12, and MTP-24 connectors have their advantages and they also have many differences. Next, I will introduce the differences between them in points:

Number of Fibers

MTP-8 has 8 fibers. Although it has 12 fiber positions, the middle 4 fibers are not applicable. MTP-12 has 12 fibers, while MTP-24 has 24 fibers. MTP-8 connectors are mainly used for parallel transmission of 4 channels, and each channel uses 2 fibers for transmission and reception. MTP-12 and MTP-24 provide more channel options. They support parallel optical transmission, and each fiber can transmit and receive data.

Bandwidth Support

MTP-8 is mainly used for applications such as 40G SR4 and 100G SR4. It supports parallel transmission of 10Gbps or 25Gbps per channel and can be used as 1-to-4 applications. MTP-12 is more widely used, supporting applications with multiple rates such as 10G, 40G, and 100G. When used on a large scale, it can ensure both density and flexibility. MTP-24 performs best in environments that require high density and high bandwidth. It is usually used in applications such as 100G SR10 and 400G SR16 and can achieve 400G or even higher bandwidth through more fiber channels.

Wiring Complexity

MTP-8 has relatively simple wiring because of its small number of fibers. However, more connectors and ports are required when higher bandwidth is required, which increases the port usage. MTP-12 wiring is slightly more complicated, but it can support more channels, so the number of wiring can be reduced during wiring, making the cables easier to manage. MTP-24 wiring is the most complex, but its high-density design greatly reduces the number of connectors required. In environments that require ultra-high bandwidth, it can significantly optimize wiring and facilitate later operation and maintenance.

Scalability

Since MTP-8 has a small number of fibers, its scalability is relatively limited, and it is suitable for medium-bandwidth networks, such as 40G and 100G. If higher bandwidth is required, more connectors need to be deployed. MTP-12 has good scalability and can adapt to multiple rates from 10G to 400G, without having to replace the cabling infrastructure when upgrading. MTP-24 has the performance to support ultra-high bandwidth networks. If you plan to upgrade to 400G or even 800G networks, then choosing MTP-24 is undoubtedly the most convenient choice. It provides sufficient channel support to help you meet the growing network bandwidth requirements.

Conclusion

In general, MTP-8 is suitable for short-distance high-speed applications, with lower costs and simpler wiring. MTP-12 focuses on both cost-effectiveness and performance and widely supports a variety of application scenarios with different rates from 10G to 400G. MTP-24, with its ultra-high density and bandwidth support, has become an ideal solution for high-performance networks and large-scale data centers. Its scalability is not available in the other two connectors. If you have any questions about MTP connectors, please feel free to contact QSFPTEK's CCIE/HCIE engineers at [email protected].