OM5 fiber is capable of transmitting up to 100 Gbps over a single fiber pair using SWDM (Short Wavelength Division Multiplexing) technology. This technology allows for the transmission of four 25 Gbps data streams (100 Gbps Ethernet) across four different wavelengths (850, 880, 910, and 940 nm). This requires multimode fibers to transmit the different wavelengths with approximately the same degree of accuracy. OM5 fibers are specifically optimized for this, stabilizing light with a wavelength between 850 and 950 nm. With this new Ethernet variant and OM5 fibers, it would be possible to transmit 100 Gbps over a maximum distance of 150 meters using only two fibers and LC duplex connectors as the device interface. Applying this same strategy to parallel optical transmission over eight fibers, now also possible with OM5, yields a data rate of 400 Gbps.
 
Use cases for 100 Gbps Ethernet over two OM5 multimode fibers include high-performance switches and servers. With a reach of 150 meters, OM5 solutions are also suitable for cabling multi-story buildings or server rooms. Conversely, 400 Gbps Ethernet, using a total of eight OM5 fibers, is primarily intended for use in data centers, where its enormous data throughput is a major advantage.
 
Generally, 10 Gbps SWDM technology can also operate over OM3 and OM4. The maximum achievable transmission lengths are 240 meters for OM3 and 350 meters for OM4. The OM5 fiber, specifically developed for this application, offers a significantly longer transmission length, reaching 440 meters. Ranges of 500 meters for a data transmission of 40 Gbit/s and 300 meters with a data transmission of 100 Gbits/s have already been achieved through an OM5 fiber in the laboratory and at trade fairs.