Fiber optic cable transmits data as pulses of light through glass or plastic strands, making it immune to electromagnetic interference and capable of far greater bandwidth and distance than copper. For commercial buildings in Dallas-Fort Worth, fiber is the standard choice for backbone cabling between MDF and IDF closets, building-to-building connections across a campus, and any horizontal run exceeding the 100-meter distance limit of copper Ethernet.
There are two primary fiber types used in commercial structured cabling:
Multimode Fiber (MMF) uses a larger core (50 or 62.5 microns) and is designed for shorter distances — typically up to 300–550 meters depending on the grade and transceiver. OM3 and OM4 multimode fiber are the current ANSI/TIA-568.3-D standards for laser-optimized multimode, supporting 10G, 40G, and 100G Ethernet at appropriate distances. OM4 is the most common choice for intra-building backbone in DFW commercial office and industrial facilities.
Single-Mode Fiber (SMF) uses a much smaller core (9 microns) and carries light from a laser source over distances of several kilometers without signal degradation. OS2 single-mode fiber is the TIA-standard choice for campus or building-to-building runs. Just Cabling installs single-mode fiber for DFW clients connecting multiple buildings across a campus, parking garage cameras to a main data center, or warehouse facilities with long spans between distribution points.