What is the typical range of a multi-mode fiber network?

The typical range of a multi-mode fiber network is generally understood to be up to 500 meters for most applications due to the higher modal dispersion that occurs within multi-mode fibers. This dispersion limits the distance data can travel without significant signal loss.

Multi-mode fibers are commonly used for short-distance communication within buildings or campuses, such as connecting switches or servers in a local area network. The effective range can vary based on the specific type of multi-mode fiber (e.g., OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4, OM5) and the data rate, but typically, the limits are around 100 meters to 500 meters when handling high speeds like 10 Gbps or more.

In this case, the answer indicating a range of up to 2 km, while technically achievable with certain conditions and allowing for specific equipment, does not represent standard practice or typical applications for multi-mode fiber networks. That is why this choice does not accurately reflect the typical operational range that professionals should expect when using multi-mode fiber.