4MPO to 4MPO 48-Fiber OM3 Multimode Breakout Fiber Optic Cable | Female to Female | Factory Tested

An MPO breakout cable is a fiber optic assembly that uses MPO connectors on each end and separates into individual fiber legs near the equipment. Instead of running many loose cables through your cable tray, you run one organized assembly and fan it out at each end. It is the standard choice for high-density 40G, 100G, and 400G data center builds.

MPO stands for Multi-fiber Push-On. It refers to a connector type that holds multiple fibers in a single housing, pushed together and locked with a push-pull latch. A single MPO connector commonly holds 8, 12, or 24 fibers. The 4MPO to 4MPO cable holds 12 fibers per connector, giving you 48 fibers total across the full assembly.

A breakout cable is used to connect high-density network equipment like top-of-rack switches, core routers, and storage arrays. It carries multiple fiber connections in one cable run and splits them out at each end so each fiber can connect to its own port. This reduces the number of individual cables in your cable tray, makes troubleshooting easier, and keeps your installation clean.

A breakout cable takes a multi-fiber MPO connector and splits it into separate legs at each end. The main cable body carries all the fibers together through the run, and the breakout legs separate them close to the equipment so each fiber can reach its own port or adapter. It combines the organization of a trunk cable with the flexibility of individual connections at the endpoints.

MPO is the international connector standard defined by IEC 61754-7. MTP is a brand name from US Conec that builds on the MPO standard with tighter manufacturing tolerances and some mechanical improvements. Both connectors are fully compatible with each other. Most buyers use the terms interchangeably when shopping for breakout or trunk cables.

An LC connector holds a single fiber and is the most common connector for individual patch cables. An MPO connector holds 12 or more fibers in one housing. For high-density parallel optic setups where you need to carry many fibers between two points in one cable, MPO is the right choice. Many data center builds use both: MPO trunk cables between switches and LC patch cables from the panel to the servers.

A breakout cable gives each individual fiber its own sub-jacket inside the main cable, so the individual fiber legs can connect directly to equipment without needing a patch panel. A distribution cable groups the fibers under a shared outer jacket without individual sub-jackets, so the fibers need to be terminated in a protected enclosure. Breakout cables cost more but save time on installation.

A fanout cable is another name for a breakout cable. Both terms describe the same product: a fiber optic assembly that takes multiple fibers from an MPO connector and fans them out into separate legs at each end.

The main advantage is that breakout cables connect directly to equipment without going through a patch panel or termination enclosure. Each fiber has its own protective sub-jacket, strong enough to be plugged in on its own. For installations where direct connectivity and faster deployment matter, breakout cables are the better option.

A Cisco breakout cable refers to a cable used with Cisco switches that splits a high-speed port into multiple lower-speed ports. For example, a single 40G QSFP+ port can be broken out into four separate 10G SFP+ connections. The MPO connector on the switch side carries all four lanes, and the breakout legs connect to four individual 10G devices.

The two main types are single-mode and multimode fiber. Single-mode has a very narrow core and carries light over very long distances. Multimode has a wider core and is used over shorter distances at lower cost. The MPO cables we supply use OM3 multimode fiber, the standard choice for data center runs up to 100 meters at 40G and 70 meters at 100G.

Insertion loss is the amount of light signal lost as it passes through a connector, measured in decibels. Lower values mean better performance. The industry standard for MPO connectors is below 0.5 dB per connection. Every cable we supply ships with an individual test report showing the measured values for every fiber.

Yes. In addition to the standard 3M and 5M cables listed here, we can supply custom lengths, different fiber counts, and alternative configurations. Bulk pricing is available for orders of 5 units or more. Contact us with your project requirements and we will provide a quote.

An MPO patch cable connects two MPO ports directly, keeping all fibers bundled in one cable from end to end. An MPO breakout cable, also called an MPO fanout cable, also uses MPO connectors but splits the fibers into separate legs near each end so they can connect to individual ports or devices. If you need to extend an MPO link between two panels or switches, a patch cable is the right choice. If you need to distribute the individual fibers to separate ports or transceivers, a breakout cable is what you need.