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Fiber Optic Fast Connectors
Pre-polished, embedded-fiber fast connectors in SC and LC, APC and UPC, for FTTH drop cables and 0.9 to 3.0 mm round cables, made in our own factory.
- ✓SC and LC, APC and UPC, single-mode and multimode versions
- ✓Fits 3.0 × 2.0 mm and 1.6 × 2.0 mm drop cable and 0.9 to 3.0 mm round cable
- ✓Typical insertion loss ≤0.35 dB
- ✓Custom housing colors, printing and packaging
SC/APC, SC/UPC and LC Fast Connector Models
Filter by end face, then open a model page for photos and the model data sheet. Every fiber optic fast connector below is pre-polished, with embedded fiber: the ferrule and its short internal fiber are polished in our factory, so the installer only strips, cleaves and inserts the field fiber.
- Fiber
- G.652 / G.657
- Cable
- Bow-type drop cable
- End face
- APC, green
- Fiber
- G.652 / G.657
- Cable
- Bow-type drop cable
- End face
- APC, green
- Fiber
- G.652 / G.657
- Cable
- Bow-type drop cable
- End face
- APC, green
- Fiber
- Single-mode
- Cable
- Locking sleeve over clamp
- End face
- UPC, blue
- Fiber
- G.652 / G.657
- Cable
- Bow-type drop cable
- End face
- UPC, blue
- Fiber
- G.652 / G.657
- Cable
- Bow-type drop cable
- End face
- UPC, blue
- Fiber
- G.652 / G.657
- Cable
- Bow-type drop cable
- End face
- UPC, blue
- Fiber
- Single-mode
- Cable
- Bow-type drop cable
- End face
- APC, green
Need another interface, polish or cable size? Tell us what you are terminating.
Get a QuoteFast connectors from our own manufacturing bases.
25+ years in fiber optic manufacturing, 2 manufacturing bases in Ningbo and Dongguan, and 500+ customers in 60+ countries.
How we make and test them ↓
Selected screenshots; full documents available on request.
Match the Connector to Your Drop Cable, Fiber and Port
A fiber optic fast connector is chosen by three things: the cable it has to grip, the fiber inside that cable, and the port or adapter it will plug into. Start with the cable, then the fiber, then the end face.
Cable and fiber
| Cable you are terminating | Fiber | Versions to look at | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 × 2.0 mm bow-type drop cable | G.652 or G.657 single-mode | SC/APCSC/UPCLC/APCLC/UPC | The clamp must match the flat drop cable profile |
| 1.6 × 2.0 mm bow-type drop cable | G.652 or G.657 single-mode | SC/APCSC/UPCLC/APCLC/UPC | Confirm the model lists the 1.6 × 2.0 mm size |
| 0.9, 2.0 or 3.0 mm round cable | Single-mode | SC/APCSC/UPCLC/APCLC/UPC | SC tensile rating depends on cable diameter |
| 0.9, 2.0 or 3.0 mm round cable | OM2 to OM5 multimode | SC/UPCLC/UPC | Multimode versions use a UPC end face |
Cable compatibility is confirmed model by model, so send us the cable type and outer size and we will match the version.
Then match the port
APC connectors have an angled end face, usually about 8°, while UPC connectors are polished flat with a slight dome. The two must not be mated through an adapter: the mismatch increases loss and back-reflection and can damage the end faces. Check whether the ONU port, wall outlet or adapter on site is APC or UPC before you order.
Color helps, but read the label
APC: green housing
UPC: blue housing
Standard APC versions have green housings and UPC versions blue, which follows the common industry convention. Color codes have exceptions, so confirm the end face printed on the packaging or data sheet as well.
On a drop cable, strip 50 to 60 mm of the outer jacket before you start; the cleave length for each model is printed in its instruction sheet.
How a Pre-Polished Fast Connector Terminates in the Field
Inside a pre-polished fast connector, also called a fiber optic quick connector, field-installable connector or field assembly connector, is a short length of fiber that is bonded into the ceramic ferrule and polished at the factory. Behind it sits a mechanical splice: a precision alignment channel filled with index-matching gel and a clamp that holds the field fiber. The installer cleaves the field fiber, pushes it in until it meets the internal fiber, and closes the clamp. No epoxy and no polishing are needed on site, and once it is closed it works like any other SC or LC fiber optic connector in a matching adapter.
That design is why the industry also calls these splice connectors or mechanical splice connectors. It also explains where loss comes from: the total is the connector’s mated loss plus the loss of the internal splice, and the splice depends mainly on how clean and square the cleave is.
How does it compare with the other methods of fiber termination in the field?
Fusion splice-on connectors
Replace the mechanical splice with a fusion splice, so loss is generally lower, but every crew needs a fusion splicer. We supply both types.
Fusing a factory-terminated pigtail
Gives factory-polished performance, but needs a splicer and a splice tray or closure to hold the splice.
Pre-polished fast connectors
Need only a stripper, a cleaver and the connector, which suits FTTH drops where crews terminate one or two fibers per site.
For a step-by-step comparison of all three methods, see our guide on how to terminate fiber optic cable.
Typical Specifications by Interface and Polish
Values are typical and can vary by model; the data sheet for each model is supplied with your quotation.
| Version | Fiber | Insertion loss | Return loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| SC/APC, LC/APC | 9/125 μm single-mode optical fiber | ≤0.35 dB | ≥60 dB |
| SC/UPC, LC/UPC | 9/125 μm single-mode | ≤0.35 dB | ≥50 dB |
| SC/UPC, LC/UPC | OM2 to OM5 multimode | ≤0.35 dB | ≥25 dB |
| Item | SC fast connectors | LC fast connectors |
|---|---|---|
| Ferrule | Ceramic | Ceramic |
| Round cable diameter | 0.9 / 2.0 / 3.0 mm | 0.9 / 2.0 / 3.0 mm |
| Drop cable | 3.0 × 2.0 mm and 1.6 × 2.0 mm bow-type | 3.0 × 2.0 mm and 1.6 × 2.0 mm bow-type |
| Tensile strength | 10 N (0.9 mm), 20 N (2.0 mm), 50 N (3.0 mm) | Ask by model |
| Operating temperature | −40 to +85 °C | −20 to +75 °C |
| Storage temperature | −40 to +85 °C | −40 to +85 °C |
Know your interface and cable?Send us the version, cable size and quantity for a quote or samples.
Get a QuoteInstallation Steps and On-Site Checks
The exact sequence differs slightly between models, so always follow the instruction sheet in the box. The main steps are the same:
01Strip
Remove 50 to 60 mm of the drop cable jacket, then strip the fiber coating as the instruction sheet shows.
02Clean
Wipe the bare fiber with a lint-free wipe and isopropyl alcohol. Do not touch it again afterwards.
03Cleave
Cut the fiber to the model’s cleave length with a precision cleaver. A poor cleave raises the loss of the internal splice.
04Insert
Push the fiber in until it meets the internal fiber, and keep light pressure on it while you lock, so the two fiber ends stay in contact.
05Lock
Close the clamp, fit the housing and boot, and check that the cable jacket is held firmly.
Then check the work
Shine a visual fault locator into the fiber: if red light glows at the splice zone, the fiber is not fully seated or the cleave is poor, so redo the termination. Where the project requires it, measure insertion loss with a light source and power meter, and return loss with suitable test equipment.
Watch a full termination in the video.
Where Fast Connectors Fit in an FTTH Drop
Fast connectors are used wherever a drop cable has to be terminated on site, in a length that was only known after the cable was pulled:
At the subscriber end
Terminating the drop cable for the ONU or for fiber optic wall outlets.
At the distribution point
Terminating drops inside fiber distribution and termination boxes, where they plug into SC and LC adapters.
For repairs
Re-terminating a drop cable after the end has been damaged, without re-pulling the cable.
Indoors
Terminating 0.9 to 3.0 mm round cables where a drop or riser cable ends.
SC is widely used in FTTH, broadband access and CATV distribution; LC is the small-form-factor choice where panels need higher density. Where a run calls for factory-terminated assemblies instead, see our patch cords and pigtails.
The Factory Behind Our Fast Connectors
Our fast connectors come from our own plants: two manufacturing bases in Ningbo and Dongguan with more than 40,000 m² of floor space and more than 600 experienced production employees.
- 40,000+ m²manufacturing floor space
- 600+experienced production employees
- 9 + 12Sodick EDM and high-speed CNC milling machines in the tool room
- 200+injection molding machines
- 1,000+automated assembly and inspection units
- 500+customers in over 60 countries
Molds and plastic parts are where a connector starts, and we have 35+ years of plastics and mold-making experience behind ours. Finished products are checked in our fully equipped fiber optic test laboratory at the Ningbo base, which tests the fiber optic components we make, and fast connectors are optically tested on a sampling basis during production. If you want to see your order before it ships, we can arrange a live video inspection on request, and full test documents are available on request.
Custom Colors, Ferrules, Printing and Samples
For private-label and operator fiber optic fast connector projects we can customize housing colors, ferrule specifications, and printing and packaging. Samples are available on request so your crews can try the connectors on their own cable before you order.
- ✓Housing colors
- ✓Ferrule specifications
- ✓Printing and packaging
- ✓Samples on request
Send Us Your Fast Connector Inquiry
Tell us the interface and end face, the cable type and size, and the quantity. We will reply with a quotation and the model data sheets.
- 01
Interface and end faceSC or LC, APC or UPC, single-mode or multimode
- 02
Cable type and sizeBow-type drop cable or 0.9 to 3.0 mm round cable
- 03
Quantity and optionsHousing colors, printing, packaging or samples
Not sure which version fits your network? Describe the cable and port and we will match the model.
Your inquiry
Fields marked * are required.
Fast Connector Procurement FAQ
Can’t find your question? Send it with your cable type and quantity.
What is the difference between a fast connector and a splice-on connector?
A fast connector joins the field fiber with a mechanical splice inside the connector, so it needs only a stripper and a cleaver. A splice-on connector has a short pigtail that is fusion spliced onto the field fiber, so it needs a fusion splicer. We supply both.
Can I mate an APC fast connector with a UPC adapter or port?
No. Use APC with APC and UPC with UPC. Mixing them increases loss and back-reflection and can damage the end faces.
Which drop cables do your fast connectors fit?
3.0 × 2.0 mm and 1.6 × 2.0 mm bow-type FTTH drop cables, and 0.9, 2.0 and 3.0 mm round cables, depending on the model.
Do you have multimode fast connectors?
Yes. SC/UPC and LC/UPC versions are available for OM2 to OM5 multimode fiber.
What insertion loss should I expect after installation?
Our data sheets give a typical insertion loss of ≤0.35 dB. The result on site also depends on the cleave and on keeping the fiber clean, which is why a precision cleaver is worth using.
How are your fast connectors tested?
We optically test them on a sampling basis during production, because a fast connector can only be fully tested after it is installed on the fiber.
Can I get samples?
Yes, samples are available on request. Tell us the interface, end face and cable type you want to test.
What are your MOQ and lead time?
They depend on the model and our order schedule. Contact our sales team with your quantity and we will confirm both in the quotation.