Tuesday, 24 June 2025

SC vs. LC Connectors: Key Differences in Fiber Optic Connectivity

As optical fiber transmission technology matures, fiber-optic connections evolve in tandem. At the same time, the demand for fiber-optic connecting devices such as the Subscriber Connector (SC) and Lucent Connector (LC) is increasing due to the rapid expansion of high-bandwidth communication and data services.



As a result, the SC and LC Cable became the most used devices in a wide range of optical fiber connections. This is mostly due to the tough nature of both SC and LC devices, which are reasonably priced. Furthermore, they provide dependable connections that line perfectly and are optically extremely smooth.

SC connectors: Stick and Click.

SC, which stands for Subscriber Connector, has also been known as Square Connector or Standard Connector. It is a common fiber-optic connection due to its low cost, durability, and ease of installation for both point-to-point and passive optical networking applications.

SC Cable is a push-pull device that employs a ceramic ferrule to provide extremely precise alignment in a fiber-optic link. It's a square-shaped connector—also known as "stick and click" due to its SC acronym—with a locking tab that allows for push-on and pull-off operation.

The new SC connections simplify installation, increase yield, and provide assured insertion and return loss performance comparable to factory-terminated connectors. However, SC has a wide connection housing and a 2.5-mm ferrule, making it unsuitable for densely populated racks and panels.



LC connectors: younger, smaller

In the early 2000s, Lucent Technologies, which is now part of Nokia, created LC connectors in response to criticisms that ST and SC connectors were excessively big and easy to dislodge from fiber connections. With the advent of LC-compatible transceivers and other active networking components, this smaller form of SC connections gradually gained popularity in new fiber applications such as fiber to the house (FTTH). The smaller form factor, with a 1.25-mm ferrule, was especially useful in high-connection-density situations such as data centers and telecom switching centers. LC Cable is also a push-pull connection, but unlike SC's locking tab, it utilizes a latch with a thinner ferrule, which makes it extremely common in data communications and other high-density patch applications.

Next: Simplify Your Network Connectivity with MTP to MTP Solutions

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SC vs. LC Connectors: Key Differences in Fiber Optic Connectivity

As optical fiber transmission technology matures, fiber-optic connections evolve in tandem. At the same time, the demand for fiber-optic con...