Introduction to the MPO-16 Products.

In today’s rapidly evolving data centers and high-speed networks, efficient and reliable fiber optic connectivity is crucial. The MPO-16 (Multi-fiber Push-On) patch cord has emerged as a key component in modern optical infrastructure, enabling ultra-high-density connections for 400G, 800G, and beyond.

MPO-16 Patch Cord Components

1.MPO-16 Connector

Ferrule:

Material: High-precision zirconia ceramic (or composite) with 16 fiber holes.

Alignment: Uses guide pins (male) or holes (female) for accurate fiber alignment.

Housing:

Shell: Reinforced PPS plastic (polyphenylene sulfide) for durability.

Latch Mechanism: Push-pull clip for secure mating.

2.Fiber Cable

Fiber Type:

Single-mode (SMF):  (G.657A1) for long-haul applications.

Multimode (MMF): OM3/OM4/OM5 (50/125µm) for short-reach high-speed links.

Fiber Count: 16 individual fibers in a tight-buffered or loose-tube design.

3. Boot & Strain Relief

Material: Flexible LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen).

Function: Protects fibers from bending and tensile stress.

4. Cable Jacket

Material: PVC, LSZH, or plenum-rated (OFNP) for fire safety.

Diameter: Typically 3.0mm (depending on application).

Polarity Components

Key Orientation:

Key-up (Type A):

Straight-through polarity.

Fibers are in sequential order (Fiber 1→1, 2→2, …, 12→12).

Key-up to Key-down (connectors flipped 180°).

Both connectors have the same key position.

Key-down (Type B):

Reversed polarity.

Fibers are mirror-reversed (Fiber 1→12, 2→11, …, 12→1).

Key-up to Key-up (both connectors aligned)

Connectors have opposite key positions.

Application Of MPO-16 Patch Cords 

MPO-16 cables are widely used in:

Hyperscale Data Centers

Enables 400G/800G spine-leaf architectures with fewer cables.

Used in breakout configurations (e.g., 1x MPO-16 to 8x duplex LC for 100G migration).

5G Fronthaul/Backhaul

Supports high-capacity fiber links between 5G base stations and core networks.

High-Performance Computing (HPC)

Provides low-latency, high-bandwidth interconnects for AI/ML clusters and supercomputers.

Passive Optical Networks (PON)

Facilitates fiber-to-the-x (FTTx) deployments with high port density

Tarluz’s Products

MPO Trunk Cable Assemblies

MPO-16 to MPO-16 400G Fiber Cable Assembly

MPO Breakout Cable Assemblies

MPO-16 to 8 x Duplex Fan-out Fiber Cable Assembly SM OS2 Fiber

MPO-16 to 8 x Duplex Fan-out Fiber Cable Assembly MM OM4 Fiber

MPO Conversion Cables

MPO-16 to 2 x MPO-8 Conversion Cable

MPO Loopback

In Conclusion

The MPO16 connector is engineered to enhance scalability and simplify fiber management in high-density network systems, ensuring that businesses and service providers can meet growing demands for bandwidth and reliability.

Related Article:

What Is an MPO-12 Multimode Fiber Splitter Cable?