IEC 60793-2-10:2019

Overview

IEC 60793-2-10:2019 defines product specifications for category A1 multimode optical fibres - covering the sub-categories A1-OM1, A1-OM2, A1-OM3, A1-OM4, A1-OM5, and A1d. This seventh-edition (2019) sectional specification is a technical revision that updates naming conventions to align better with ISO/IEC standards. It applies to fibres intended for information transmission and incorporation in optical fibre cables used in short-reach, high bit‑rate systems and a wide range of on‑premises and outside-plant installations.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope of sub-categories:
  • A1-OM2, A1-OM3, A1-OM4, A1-OM5: 50/125 µm graded-index fibres in multiple bandwidth grades.
  • A1-OM1: 62.5/125 µm graded-index fibre.
  • A1d: 100/140 µm graded-index fibre.
• Macrobend loss performance: Two levels distinguished by suffix “a” (traditional) and “b” (enhanced lower-loss) for selected sub-categories.
• Wavelength support: A1-OM5 specified for single- or multi-wavelength systems near 850–950 nm; bandwidth info for this range is also provided for A1-OM3 and A1-OM4.
• Three layers of requirements:
  1. General requirements referenced to IEC 60793-2.
  2. Category-common requirements (Clause 5).
  3. Particular requirements for sub-categories/models in normative Annexes A–D.
• Measured attributes and tests: dimensional, mechanical, transmission (attenuation, modal bandwidth, DMD), and environmental (temperature, humidity, mechanical environmental stress). Annex D details DMD, Effective Modal Bandwidth (EMB) and Overfilled Modal Bandwidth (OMB) requirements; Annex E covers system and transmitter/encircled flux considerations.

Practical applications and users

Who uses IEC 60793-2-10:2019

• Optical fibre manufacturers and cable vendors specifying product performance.
• Test laboratories validating dimensional, mechanical, transmission and environmental attributes.
• Network designers, data centre architects, and system integrators selecting fibre types for LAN, SAN, PBX, and high‑bit‑rate Ethernet (1G–100G) short‑reach links.
• Standards bodies and procurement teams mapping fibre performance to cabling classes.

Typical applications

• On‑premises intra‑building and inter‑building cabling (data centres, enterprise LANs).
• Short‑reach telephony, video and high‑bit‑rate data links.
• Outside plant where specific macrobend or environmental performance is required.

Related standards

• IEC 60793-2 (general optical fibre requirements) - normative reference for this document.
• ISO/IEC cabling standards (e.g., ISO/IEC 11801‑1) - cross-referenced in Annex H for mapping fibre types to cabling categories.
• Annexes E and I provide guidance on system-level considerations (transmitters, encircled flux, and Ethernet application guidance).

Keywords: IEC 60793-2-10:2019, optical fibre sub-categories A1-OM1, A1-OM2, A1-OM3, A1-OM4, A1-OM5, A1d, multimode fibre, DMD, EMB, macrobend loss, encircled flux.