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SFP (Small Form Factor Pluggable) is a compact, hot-swappable transceiver module that converts electrical signals into optical signals (and vice versa), enabling long-distance communication between devices. One of the main advantages of SFP modules is their hot-swappable nature, which allows them to be inserted or removed without powering down network devices.
Optical modules undergo rigorous testing and quality inspection procedures before shipment, including incoming material inspection, parameter testing, aging testing, actual device testing, and end-face inspection. All test results must meet standard levels; otherwise, the optical module will be returned to the production line for readjustment. Understanding these tests helps in identifying the quality of optical modules.
With the commercialization of AI, data centers have become the darling of the new era. The computing power of data centers is an important bargaining chip for major manufacturers to occupy the right to speak in the AI era. At the physical layer of the data center, as the core transmission carrier of data traffic, optical modules, which were once just standard accessories for network equipment, are being pushed to the forefront of the computing power competition by AI. From the rate evolution from 400G to 1.6T, and then to the technological leap from traditional pluggable to CPO, the impact of AI on optical modules is getting wider and deeper. This article will analyze in detail the impact of the AI era on the demand for optical modules.
With the expansion of data centres and with the advent of the AI era, the demand of data transmission is growing unabated. As one kind of network communication technology with stable performance, the 10 Gigabit copper interface has been a valuable choice for data transmission:
A BIDI optical module is a single-fiber bidirectional optical module, or BiDi (Bidirectional). Conventional modules are dual-fiber modules (connected by two optical fibers), with two fiber ports at the interface: a transmit port (TX) and a receive port (RX). BIDI modules, however, are single-fiber modules with only one fiber port. Different optical signals are transmitted and received within a single fiber; therefore, BIDI optical modules must be used in pairs. Visually, a BIDI module has only one port and uses only one optical fiber for connection.
In 2026, big data has permeated our lives. We watch high-definition videos online, use AI to help us work and live, store data in the cloud, and use intelligent driving functions in vehicles. Behind each of these applications, massive amounts of data are rapidly traversing between nodes in data centers, metropolitan area networks, and backbone networks. The data connections between these nodes rely on optical modules. Optical modules perform photoelectric conversion, transforming electrical signals into optical signals suitable for long-distance transmission, enabling long-distance, low-latency data transmission.
The previous generation of data centers—deployed prior to the advent of AI computing—were predominantly built upon 100G networks. Within the business scenarios prevalent at the time—including virtualization, container orchestration, and distributed storage—100G was entirely sufficient, presenting no concerns regarding bandwidth bottlenecks. However, the sudden emergence of ChatGPT in 2022 marked the dawn of the "AI Era" and fundamentally transformed the landscape. The massive data demands generated by AI training proved utterly unsupportable by traditional 100G networks; this colossal demand has subsequently driven the further evolution of optical modules toward higher speeds and lower power consumption.
The 100G QSFP28 optical transceiver is crafted for 100 Gigabit Ethernet, EDR InfiniBand, or 32G Fibre Channel applications. Sporting a footprint akin to the 40G QSFP+, the QSFP28 operates on four channels of high-speed data rates at 25Gbps per channel to deliver 100Gbps. Compared to 100G CFP/CFP2/CFP4, QSFP28 100G optics surpass them with the strong ability to increase density, lower power consumption, and reduced price per bit.
QSFP-DD (also known as QSFP56-DD) is a dual-density quad-channel small form factor pluggable package, a new type of high-speed pluggable module package that complies with the IEEE 802.3bs and QSFP-DD MSA standards. This package has 8 electrical interfaces, achieving a data rate of up to 25Gb/s per channel through NRZ modulation technology, enabling 200G network transmission; and up to 50Gb/s per channel through PAM4 modulation technology, enabling 400G network transmission. It is suitable for high-performance computing data centers and cloud networks.
In some network scenarios, as services expand and develop, the demand for bandwidth grows exponentially, but network infrastructure development cannot keep up with this growth. Infrastructure construction, especially the laying of fiber optic resources, is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and resource-intensive. Therefore, for a long time, networks will face the problem of fiber optic resource shortages, which have become core bottlenecks restricting further increases in network bandwidth. BiDi (Bi-Directional, single-fiber bidirectional) optical modules were developed precisely to solve this problem.
The SFP-25G-LR optical module (SFP28 1310nm 10km) is a high-performance long-distance data communication module. It features an SFP28 package, 25G data rate, 1310nm wavelength, a transmission distance of 10km, an LC interface, and supports operating temperatures from 0-70 degrees Celsius. The SFP-25G-LR optical module boasts stable performance, low power consumption, and strong compatibility, making it ideal for use in 25G Ethernet switches, routers, network interface cards, and storage network devices.
The 10G SFP+ dual-fiber optical module is a small, pluggable optical transceiver with a dual-fiber bidirectional design. It uses two independent optical fibers to complete signal transmission (Tx) and reception (Rx) respectively, ensuring the stability and reliability of signal transmission.
For data centers, 100G optical modules, as core interconnect devices, have always been a key focus for operators and maintainers in balancing transmission distance and cost. In today's data centers, the QSFP28 CWDM4 optical module, with its unique advantages, is increasingly being chosen by data center builders. Today, let's delve deeper into the 100G QSFP28 CWDM4 optical module and understand why it is so favored by so many data center professionals.
A 1x9 optical module, also called a 9-pin module, has 9 pins. It's a solderable module that needs to be soldered onto a circuit board. Each pin has a different function, and there are three interface types: SC/FC/ST.
As enterprise digital transformation enters its more complex phase, campus networks are no longer merely about "connectivity," but rather the core engine of business innovation. Traditional Ethernet architectures are becoming bottlenecks, while all-optical network (F5G), with its disruptive architectural advantages, is becoming the inevitable choice for next-generation enterprise-level campus infrastructure.
Dual-fiber SFP optical modules are a common type of 1G SFP optical module. They employ a bidirectional transmission mechanism, with two independent channels or ports for data transmission and reception. One is the transmit port, and the other is the receive port. Both transmission and reception require a single optical fiber connection. Common wavelengths for 1G dual-fiber optical modules include 850nm, 1310nm, and 1550nm.
The biggest difference between 100Mbps, Gigabit, and 10GbE optical modules is their transmission rate. 100Mbps and Gigabit optical modules are packaged in SFP form factor, while 10GbE optical modules are packaged in SFP+ and XFP form factors. 100Mbps modules have a transmission speed of 155Mb/s; Gigabit modules have a transmission speed of 1.25Gb/s; and 10GbE optical modules have a transmission rate of 10Gbps.
With the gradual implementation of 5G network construction, the development of 6G is also on the agenda. In this context, the fronthaul network, as a crucial bridge connecting the central unit/DU and the remote radio unit (AAU/RRU), is a key focus for both 5G network implementation and 6G network development. However, according to 3GPP standards, 5G fronthaul needs to support the eCPRI protocol, imposing stringent requirements on bandwidth, latency, and synchronization accuracy. The outdated 4G network cannot handle the high traffic volume brought by 5G, and the cabling planning of the 4G network cannot meet the needs of the 5G fronthaul network.
Generally speaking, there are two types of optical fiber: Fiber that supports multiple propagation paths or transverse modes is called multimode fiber (MMF), while fiber that supports a single mode is called single-mode fiber (SMF).
A 1G SFP module, also known as a 1 Gigabit Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP), is a transceiver used in telecommunications and data communications applications. It is designed to support communication over optical fiber or sometimes copper network cables at speeds of up to 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps).
