OM1 and OM2 fibers are generically known as what type of fibers?

OM1 and OM2 fibers are classified as legacy multimode fibers. This designation is based on their historical development and the specifications that define their capabilities, particularly in terms of bandwidth and distance.

Legacy multimode fibers became widely used in networking applications due to their ability to support lower data rates over shorter distances, which were common in earlier telecommunications infrastructures. OM1, which has a core diameter of 62.5 µm, is designed for short-distance applications such as within a building or campus, while OM2, with a core diameter of 50 µm, offers slightly improved performance capabilities, allowing for higher bandwidth over modest distances.

The other classifications mentioned do not apply to OM1 and OM2 fibers. Laser optimized multimode fibers, for instance, such as OM3 and OM4, are designed for higher performance and longer distances using laser sources. Non-zero dispersion shifted and low water peak fibers, such as G.655 and G.652, pertain to single-mode fibers and are optimized for different parameters like dispersion characteristics, which are not applicable to OM1 and OM2 fibers. Thus, identifying OM1 and OM2 as legacy multimode fibers reflects their historical role and specifications in fiber optic technology.