OM5 optical fiber is the latest iteration in the family of multimode fibers that includes prior types OM1, OM2, OM3, and OM4. Formally introduced a few years ago in 2016 by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), it is also known as "Wideband Multimode Fiber" (WBMMF) and was specifically designed to enhance optical transmission performance in both data center and enterprise networks.

The transportation and highway infrastructure is critical to the flow of goods, people, and resources throughout the country.  As we learned during the pandemic, transportation was the lynchpin to delivering goods to stores, homes, or people in need.

Fiber optic networks are essential to the functioning of blockchain technology. In short, blockchain is a decentralized system that relies on a distributed network of computers to maintain a digital ledger of all transactions. Allowing for secure, transparent, and immutable record-keeping, this technology has a wide range of applications in finance (cryptocurrency for example), supply chain management, and other industries. Offering high-speed, low-latency data transmission capabilities, fiber optic networks are the ideal choice for supporting the complex and data-intensive operations of blockchain technology.

Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), also known as fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP), is when optical fiber is installed and connected directly to a single structure, such as a home, apartment, or business. This approach for delivering high-speed internet services and greater bandwidth continues to excel globally as it offers superior performance compared to non-fiber coaxial cable and DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) connections. 

The online gaming industry has been growing at a steady pace over the last decade, along with a rapid acceleration in the global popularity of eSports tournaments and massive multi-player style games hitting the market for entertainment. To support real-time, on-demand accessibility and the sheer amount of data being transmitted and received by the player’s gaming console or device, a fiber optic internet connection is critical for delivering the speed and bandwidth necessary for a positive player experience.

An Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) is an essential device used by fiber optic technicians for validating the continuity and integrity of optical fiber spans along with identifying and locating physical issues like breaks and degradations that negatively affect signal performance. As OTDRs are complex devices that must be configured properly by the user for each test scenario, classroom training is critical for learning and training purposes, ensuring that technicians are taking the most accurate measurements when using in the field network environment.

Latency is a critical performance factor in communications networks as it is the time it takes for data to travel from one point to another.  As one might expect, service providers commit a great deal of time and effort attempting to reduce latency across the entire network, to deliver data and content faster to consumers and businesses. While important in general, some applications like financial trading, streaming video, and defense/military communications prioritize latency reduction with the goal of achieving as close to real-time communications as possible.

Optical fiber serves as the primary medium for transmitting data in today's high-speed communications networks and latency, one of the most critical performance measurements, is the time it takes for a light signal to travel from one point to another. While there are numerous factors that contribute to this value like installed devices when looking at overall network latency, the time delay incurred during light transmission across the fiber itself, also known as fiber latency, is a significant component in the equation.

With global connectivity and data consumption rising at an exponential rate every year, the need for robust, faster, and more reliable data transmission is at its peak. Supporting this demand, fiber optic technology is fundamental and critical to delivering high-speed communication services and supporting the modern economy. 

When designing fiber optic communications equipment or architecting a network, engineers spend a great deal of time evaluating, selecting, and certifying equipment to match the project’s needs. During this process, deciding to utilize either off-the-shelf style products or customized style products for satisfying specific engineering or network goals is very important and can have major ramifications on the outcome of the project. This article will briefly review these two categories of fiber optic products as both have their place in fiber optic communications systems, then discuss how using customized products in specific instances can deliver greater ROI.