How many gigabits can multimode fiber optic cables run on

Multimode fiber optic cables can support speeds from 1 Gbps up to 400 Gbps depending on the fiber type and distance.Speed Capabilities by Fiber TypeOM1 (62.5 µm core): Supports 1 Gbps over long distances and 10 Gbps up to 33 meters. It is largely obsolete for modern high-speed networks .OM2 (50 µm core): Supports 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps up to 82 meters. Not suitable for 40G or 100G Ethernet .OM3 (laser-optimized 50 µm): Supports 10 Gbps up to 300 meters, 40/100 Gbps up to 100 meters, and 400 Gbps over very short distances (~30 meters) using parallel optics .OM4 (laser-optimized 50 µm): Extends 10 Gbps to 550 meters, 40/100 Gbps to 150 meters, and 400 Gbps to 50 meters .OM5 (wideband 50 µm): Designed for short-wavelength division multiplexing (SWDM), supporting multiple wavelengths simultaneously. It matches OM4 for standard 10G–100G speeds but can triple the reach for 400 Gbps (up to 150 meters) and is future-ready for 800 Gbps deployments .Key ConsiderationsDistance limitations: Higher speeds reduce the maximum transmission distance due to modal dispersion in multimode fibers .Light sources: OM1/OM2 use LEDs, while OM3/OM4/OM5 use VCSELs for higher efficiency and bandwidth .Applications: Multimode fiber is ideal for short-range connections in data centers, enterprise LANs, and building backbones, while single-mode fiber is preferred for long-distance links . In summary, modern multimode fibers (OM3, OM4, OM5) can reliably handle 10 Gbps to 400 Gbps, with OM5 offering the best support for multi-wavelength high-speed applications, making it suitable for current and future high-bandwidth networks.