What are the different lengths of multimode fiber

Multimode fiber lengths vary by type and data rate, typically ranging from 33 meters for OM1 at 10G to 550 meters for OM3/OM4 at 10G Ethernet.Typical Maximum Distances by Fiber TypeOM1 (62.5 µm core, LED source): Supports 100 Mbps Ethernet up to 2 km, 1 Gbps up to 275 meters, and 10 Gbps up to 33 meters. It is mostly used in legacy networks and older buildings .OM2 (50 µm core, LED source): Suitable for 1 Gbps Ethernet up to 550 meters and 10 Gbps up to 82 meters, commonly used in early 50 µm systems .OM3 (50 µm core, laser-optimized, VCSEL source): Supports 10 Gbps Ethernet up to 300 meters, 40/100 Gbps up to 100 meters, widely used in modern data centers .OM4 (50 µm core, enhanced laser-optimized): Extends 10 Gbps Ethernet up to 400 meters, 40/100 Gbps up to 150 meters, and is the mainstream standard for new enterprise and data center deployments .OM5 (50 µm core, wideband multimode, SWDM capable): Similar distances to OM4 for single-wavelength applications, but supports multiple wavelengths for 100G/200G/400G short-range links, enhancing scalability in high-speed data centers .Factors Affecting Multimode Fiber LengthCore Size: Larger cores (OM1) allow easier light injection but suffer from modal dispersion, limiting distance. Smaller cores (OM2–OM5) with laser optimization reduce dispersion and extend reach.Light Source: LED sources are used in OM1/OM2, limiting high-speed distances. VCSEL lasers in OM3–OM5 enable longer distances at higher data rates.Data Rate: Higher speeds reduce maximum distance due to increased modal dispersion and bandwidth requirements.Application Environment: Short-range connections within buildings or data centers typically use OM3/OM4/OM5, while legacy campus networks may still rely on OM1/OM2 .SummaryFor practical network design, OM3 and OM4 are the most common multimode fibers today, offering 10G Ethernet up to 300–400 meters and supporting higher-speed 40/100G links over 100–150 meters. OM1 and OM2 are largely legacy, suitable only for lower-speed or short-distance applications, while OM5 is emerging for multi-wavelength, high-bandwidth data center deployments .