Today, we'll explore the differences between MTP/MPO harness cables and MTP/MPO trunk cables, and learn how to choose the right type of MTP/MPO optical cable for data center applications. We'll also take a closer look at the structure, applications, and advantages of MTP/MPO trunk and harness assemblies, which are essential for efficient network expansion.
An MTP harness cable features a high-density MTP connector on one end, accommodating 8, 12, or 24 fibers, and multiple breakout fibers terminated with standard duplex LC or SC connectors on the other end. This design enables the distribution of high-density MTP connections into multiple individual network device ports, providing flexible connectivity between backbone cabling systems and end-device interfaces. It helps simplify cabling complexity and improve deployment efficiency.
For example, a single-mode 8 fiber MTP to LC duplex harness cable is specifically optimized for optical breakout connections such as 40G QSFP+ PSM4 to 10G SFP+ LR or 100G QSFP28 PSM4 to 25G SFP28 LR links.
The structure and function of an MPO harness cable are similar to those of an MTP harness cable. It also uses an MPO connector on one end and multiple LC or SC duplex connectors on the other to achieve flexible connections. The key difference is that MTP is a registered trademark of US Conec, representing an enhanced version of the MPO connector with improved optical and mechanical performance. It is important to note that the previously mentioned MTP to LC breakout connections (e.g., 40G QSFP+ PSM4 to 10G SFP+ LR or 100G QSFP28 PSM4 to 25G SFP28 LR) can also be achieved using MPO to LC harness cables.
MTP/MPO harness cables are widely used in data centers, enterprise networks, and telecommunication environments to support high-density cabling and rate breakout applications. By converting an MTP/MPO high-speed port into multiple LC or SC duplex interfaces, they enable flexible connectivity between servers, storage systems, or lower-speed devices—simplifying cabling layouts and improving port utilization.
An MTP trunk cable is a multi-fiber assembly pre-terminated with high-density MTP connectors on one or both ends, typically available in 8, 12, 24, or 48-fiber counts. MTP-to-MTP cables enable high-bandwidth parallel transmission between devices or patch panels, suitable for backbone interconnections.
MTP connectors offer low insertion loss, high return loss, and excellent stability, ensuring reliable high-speed data transmission. According to fiber type, MTP trunk cables can be classified as:
An MPO trunk cable has the same structure and function as an MTP trunk cable. It uses pre-terminated MPO connectors with 8, 12, 24, or 48 fibers to achieve high-bandwidth backbone interconnection between devices or patch panels. Similar to MTP solutions, MPO trunk cables are also available in OS2 single-mode for long-haul transmission and OM3/OM4 multimode for short-distance, high-density data center applications.
MTP/MPO trunk cables are widely deployed in data centers, enterprise networks, and telecom backbones for high-speed backbone links, patch-panel interconnections, and connections between server racks and core switches. For instance, in data centers, they enable 100G/400G backbone interconnects between core and aggregation switches, as well as optical aggregation between racks—simplifying cabling, enhancing scalability, and improving network manageability.
Moreover, MTP/MPO trunk cables support parallel optical transmission, accommodating future bandwidth upgrades and providing scalable infrastructure for next-generation high-speed networks.
As discussed above, MTP/MPO trunk and harness cables serve different purposes.
This article has explained the structure, connection methods, and typical applications of MTP/MPO harness and trunk cables. Whether used to break out high-density optical connections to multiple ports (harness cables) or to enable high-speed parallel transmission between equipment (trunk cables), MTP/MPO optical cables play a crucial role in data centers, enterprise networks, and telecom backbones, ensuring reliable, scalable, and efficient network infrastructure.
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