Sumitomo unveils 8-fiber MPO splice-on connector for 40G/100G data centers

Sumitomo Electric Lightwave has unveiled its Lynx2 CustomFit MPOQ8 Splice-On Connector, billed as the industry’s first 8-fiber QSFP [Quad Small Form Factor Pluggable] 40G-SR4 MPO splice-on connector that facilitates fast and easy 40- and 100-GbE data center and enterprise network connectivity.

For use with laser optimized OM4 8-count fiber ribbon cable, Sumitomo says the 8-fiber MPO splice-on-connector allows real-time and on-site cable builds and permanent terminations of jumpers, trunk cables, harnesses and arrays to yield optimum optical performance and cost savings for the data center.

The company points to the growing use of eight fiber ribbon cables as an alternative to 12-fiber cable. The smaller count overcomes the cost, optical performance, and compatibility issues 12-fiber cables sometimes create through unused fibers, unnecessary connectivity points, and conversion module hardware; the elimination of conversion modules alone can save hundreds of dollars per port, Sumitomo adds.

The transition from a 12-fiber count to 8 fibers is made within the ferrule of the 8-fiber MPO splice-on connector. The connector is compatible with other QSFP-40G-SR4 connectors and 100GbE modules that leverage 25G transmission. The connector's insertion loss is < 0.35 dB. The connector also is compatible with Sumitomo Electric Lightwave's Quantum Type-M12 mass fusion splicer as well as splicers from other manufacturers.

The Lynx2-MPOQ8 is being launced at the AFCOM Data Center World Global Conference in Las Vegas, April 19-23, at Sumitomo's booth 1215.