Pulling fiber to distant APs, picking multimode or single-mode.
Inside an office (up to 300 to 550 metres) multimode (OM3 or OM4) is cheaper on both cable and SFPs and plenty fast. Single-mode only wins on campus distances or if you need 25 or 40 Gbit over longer runs. The cheapest mistake: pulling OM1 or OM2 in 2026, that is dead material.
Try this first
- 1Measure the real distance including patch cabinets, not straight-line. Add 20 percent for bends and slack.
- 2Under 300 metres and at most 10 Gbit: OM3 multimode is enough and pays back on SFP cost.
- 3Between 300 and 550 metres or 25 Gbit ambition: OM4 multimode is the safer pick.
- 4Above 550 metres, or across multiple buildings on a public street: OS2 single-mode, no debate.
- 5Buy SFP modules together with the switch vendor, third-party works but test first, some Cisco and Aruba switches refuse third-party SFPs without an unlock command.
When to bring us in
You are crossing public ground (municipality, rail land) or fire-rated walls: this needs a certified installer, not DIY drilling, your insurer will also require it.
See also
- Wi-Fi drops randomly across the officeFirst rule out whether it is the access points or the internet connection itself. Different fix.
- One room or corner has no or bad Wi-FiNot always "add another AP"; often one is poorly positioned, or there is a metal wall in the way.
- Internet is suddenly slow for everyoneThree suspects: your provider, a colleague soaking the line, or a backup or update kicking in unexpectedly.
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