Fiber optic termination box, also known as a fiber patch panel, is a device used to connect optical cables in a data center. 1 What Is a Fiber Optic Patch Panel? A fiber optic patch panel (also known as fiber distribution panel, fiber patch bay, optical distribution frame or ODF in larger formats) is a centralized, high-density termination and interconnection hub primarily designed for rack-mounted deployment in. A fiber optic patch panel and a fiber optic termination box are both used in fiber optic cable management, but they serve different purposes. It acts as a hub for organizing splices and patch cords, streamlining fiber management and preserving signal integrity.