An essential supporting device to terminate and distribute fiber cables in the optical transmission system. It is mainly used for fiber fusion splicing of the optical cable terminal, the installation of optical connectors, the deployment of optical paths, the storage of excess pigtails, and the protection of optical fibers. Hence, functions of fiber connection, termination, distribution, dispatch, and cable management are centralized in one apparatus. The fiber distribution frame is of significance for the safe operation and flexible deployment of the optical fiber networks.

An ODF can be rack-mounted or wall-mounted depending upon its application.