This cable is purpose-built for the last 10–50 metres of an indoor fiber network - the segment between a floor distribution point and the end device, wall outlet, or desk-level patch panel. In FTTH deployments it carries the residential subscriber drop from the building entry point to the ONT. In enterprise horizontal cabling it connects zone switches to workstation outlets with minimal visual impact on the interior finish.
The availability of OM5 wideband multimode fiber (WBMMF) sets this cable apart from conventional mini cable products. OM5 supports shortwave wavelength division multiplexing (SWDM) over the 850–953 nm window, enabling 40G and 100G transmission over existing duplex LC runs - quadrupling link capacity without replacing the cable infrastructure. For forward-looking enterprise and campus deployments where upgrade headroom matters, OM5 delivers a pathway to next-generation speeds without re-cabling.
All three multimode grades share identical cable geometry (3.0 mm OD, same jacket, same tensile ratings). The difference lies entirely in the fiber's optical performance and future upgrade capability. Select the grade that matches your current speed requirements and how far you expect those requirements to grow.
| Fiber Grade | Core / Cladding | 10G (OM3/4/5-SR) | 25G Range | 100G Duplex (SWDM4) | Best Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OM3 | 50/125 µm | Up to 300 m | Up to 70 m | Not supported | 10G enterprise LAN, retrofit upgrades |
| OM4 | 50/125 µm | Up to 400 m | Up to 100 m | Not supported | 10G / 40G short-reach, campus horizontal |
| OM5 | 50/125 µm | Up to 400 m | Up to 100 m | Up to 150 m | Future-proof: 100G/400G duplex via SWDM |
OM5 (WBMMF) is backward-compatible with all OM3/OM4 transceivers. Upgrading from OM4 to OM5 cable incurs minimal additional cost but unlocks duplex 100G capability when SWDM4 optics are deployed - without re-cabling the horizontal runs.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Fiber Type | OM3 / OM4 / OM5 (WBMMF) 50/125 µm multimode |
| Core Count | 8 / 12 / 16 / 24 (custom available on OEM orders) |
| Fiber Buffer | 0.9 mm tight-buffered - direct termination, no gel cleaning |
| Outer Diameter | 3.0 ± 0.2 mm |
| Outer Jacket Material | PVC (standard) / LSZH (IEC 60332-1 flame-retardant) |
| Filling Material | None |
| Central Strength Member | FRP rod (non-metallic) |
| Long-term Tensile Strength | 80 N |
| Short-term Tensile Strength | 150 N |
| Min. Bend Radius (installation) | ≥ 15 × OD = 45 mm |
| Min. Bend Radius (installed) | ≥ 10 × OD = 30 mm |
| Operating Temperature | −30°C to +80°C |
| Storage Temperature | −40°C to +80°C |
| Net Weight | 8 – 10 KG/KM - lightest in the Glory Optical indoor range |
| Standard Reel Length | 500 m / 1,000 m / custom |
Fits Where No Other Fiber Cable Will
At 3.0 mm, this cable passes through a micro-duct designed for a 3.5 mm drop cable, navigates the same conduit as a standard CAT6 patch cord, and lies flat under floor coverings without creating a detectable ridge. Retrofitting fiber into an existing copper infrastructure no longer requires core drilling or new conduit runs - the 3mm mini cable finds its own way through the gaps that are already there.
Featherweight Construction for Ceiling and Plenum Runs
At 8–10 kg/km, a 30-metre ceiling run weighs less than 300 grams. This eliminates the need for cable support clips in most horizontal ceiling installations - the cable's own friction against ceiling tile edges or light trunking provides sufficient retention. In crowded plenum voids where additional hardware cannot be easily installed, the weight advantage is decisive.
100G Duplex Over Two Fibers - No New Cable Needed
OM5 WBMMF uses four wavelengths (850 nm, 880 nm, 910 nm, 940 nm) to carry four parallel 25G channels down a single fiber pair using SWDM4 optics. An 8-core OM5 mini cable therefore supports four independent 100G duplex links in the same 3mm jacket that a conventional OM3 cable would dedicate to four 10G links - a fourfold density increase with identical physical infrastructure.
Terminate Directly - No Cleaning, No Waste
Each fiber is individually encased in a 0.9 mm tight buffer, not submerged in gel inside a loose tube. Field termination requires only stripping the outer jacket and the individual fiber buffer - no gel-cleaning solvents, no fan-out kits, and no waste disposal. An experienced installer can terminate all 24 fibers of a 24-core cable in under 45 minutes using standard mechanical or fusion splicing techniques.
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1Verify the routing path before pulling. Walk the intended route end-to-end and confirm there are no sharp metal edges, tight pinch points, or abrasion hazards along the path. The 3mm jacket provides good flexibility but has lower crush resistance than armored designs - physical protection matters in high-traffic areas.
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2Respect the 45 mm minimum bend radius during installation. At 3mm OD, the installation bend radius limit is 45 mm (15× OD). When routing around corners in surface trunking, use dedicated fiber bend-radius guides or leave sufficient slack for a gradual bend. Never use staples or cable clips that compress the jacket.
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3Keep pulling tension below 150 N. For micro-duct or conduit pulls, use a pulling sock or nose cone attached to the entire cable body. A 150 N limit corresponds roughly to the pulling force needed to lift a 15 kg mass - easily monitored with a basic spring tension gauge. Exceeding this limit risks micro-bending loss in the fibers.
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4Leave service loops at both ends. Provide a minimum 1 m service loop at each termination point, coiled loosely to a radius well above the 30 mm installed bend limit. This loop allows re-termination if a connector is damaged, and accommodates future changes to outlet or equipment positions without pulling new cable.
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5Terminate using standard 0.9 mm tight-buffer tooling. Strip the outer jacket cleanly with a ringing tool to expose the colored 0.9 mm tight-buffered fibers. No gel removal is required. Install LC, SC, or FC connectors using standard mechanical crimp tools or prepare fusion splice pigtails. Clean the ferrule end-face before mating.
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6Test insertion loss after termination. Measure insertion loss using an OLTS (optical loss test set) in both directions. Acceptable insertion loss at LC/UPC connectors is ≤ 0.3 dB; at LC/APC connectors ≤ 0.2 dB. Return loss should exceed 50 dB (UPC) or 60 dB (APC). Document all test results against the cable and fiber ID.
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7Protect and label all installed runs. Fit dust caps on any unterminated fiber ends. Apply printed or handwritten cable labels at both termination points and at any intermediate access points (junction boxes, pull-through points). Update your building cable schedule immediately - small cables in ceiling voids are easily lost in future renovation works if not documented.
Q1: What is the key practical advantage of a 3.0mm cable compared to a standard 2mm simplex or 3mm distribution cable?
A 2mm simplex cable carries only one or two fibers, whereas this 3.0mm mini bundled cable packs 8 to 24 individually color-coded 0.9mm tight-buffered fibers into the same slim jacket - enough to serve multiple wall outlets or devices from a single cable run. This eliminates the need to pull separate simplex cables for each endpoint, dramatically reducing installation time and the number of conduit entries in a zone. Compared to a conventional 3mm distribution cable (which typically uses loose-tube construction with gel filling), this cable's gel-free tight-buffer design allows immediate field termination without specialized preparation tools or solvent cleaning.
Q2: What does OM5 / WBMMF actually offer that OM4 does not?
OM4 supports a single wavelength per fiber (850 nm), meaning a duplex LC connection carries one bidirectional link at up to 100G using parallel-optic (8-fiber) transceivers. OM5 (Wideband Multimode Fiber) adds support for three additional wavelengths - 880 nm, 910 nm, and 940 nm - allowing four 25G channels to travel simultaneously down a single fiber pair using SWDM4 (ShortWave Wavelength Division Multiplexing) transceivers. In practical terms:
An 8-core OM4 cable supports four independent 10G duplex links.
An 8-core OM5 cable supports four independent 100G duplex links when used with SWDM4 optics - a tenfold increase in per-link capacity with no change to the physical cable infrastructure.
OM5 is fully backward-compatible: existing OM3/OM4 transceivers operate correctly over OM5 cable at their rated distances.
The additional cost of OM5 over OM4 cable is modest. For any new installation where a 10-year lifespan is expected, OM5 is the prudent choice.
Q3: Can this cable be pulled through an existing occupied ceiling void without opening the ceiling tiles?
In most suspended tile ceiling installations, yes. The standard technique is to use a fiberglass fish rod (push-pull rod) with a hook attachment, inserted through the ceiling tile gap at the outlet position and fished to the zone box location. The 3.0mm cable - due to its light weight and small diameter - follows the fish rod path easily. The cable can pass through the narrow slot between adjacent ceiling tiles without requiring tile removal in most cases. For solid concrete ceilings, the cable must be surface-run in trunking or routed through pre-installed conduit, but the 3mm OD often fits in conduit originally installed for CAT5 copper cable with spare capacity remaining.
Q4: How does the tensile rating of 150 N compare to typical installation demands?
150 N is equivalent to lifting approximately 15 kg - far more than needed for a typical horizontal ceiling or wall run of 15–30 m. In practice, horizontal pulls of this cable rarely exceed 30–50 N when the path is clear and lubricated. The 150 N short-term limit becomes relevant only in long conduit runs (over 40 m) with multiple bends, or when the cable is pulled vertically. For those scenarios, use a calibrated spring tension gauge to monitor the pull load and apply cable lubricant at conduit entry points. The 80 N long-term limit defines the maximum sustained tension the cable can bear when permanently clamped - critical to observe if the cable is used in a short vertical drop section where it must support its own weight below a clamp point.
Q5: Does Glory Optical supply this cable pre-terminated with connectors for plug-and-play installation?
Yes. Glory Optical offers factory pre-terminated assemblies of the 3.0mm mini cable with LC, SC, or FC connectors (UPC or APC polish) on one or both ends. Pre-terminated assemblies are particularly popular for FTTH last-drop deployments and hospitality projects where on-site termination time is a major cost factor. Factory test results (insertion loss, return loss) are included with each assembly. Custom breakout lengths, boot colors, and labeling are available for OEM customers. Standard lead time for pre-terminated assemblies is 5–8 working days depending on connector type and quantity; contact the Glory Optical sales team for volume pricing and project-specific quotations.
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We confidently back all our products with a 3-year warranty. Our specific service policy is: within one year for quality issues, we take full responsibility for returns; within two years, for replacements; and within three years, for repairs.
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