You Should Know about 400G Optical Modules

400G optical module is also called 400G optical transceiver module. It converts electrical signals into optical signals at the transmitting end, transmits them through optical fiber, and converts optical signals into electrical signals at the receiving end. It is mainly used for the mutual conversion of electrical and optical signals in optical communication.

What are the different types of 400G optical modules?

The classification of 400G optical modules is divided into multi-mode (MM) and single-mode (SM) in terms of optical wavelength; NRZ and PAM4 modulation (currently mainly PAM4) in terms of signal modulation mode; VR, SR, DR, FR, LR in terms of transmission distance; OSFP, QSFP-DD, CDFP, CFP8, CWDM8, COBO, QSFP 112, etc. in terms of packaging form. In mainstream 400G optical modules, the optical port side mainly uses 8-way 53Gbps PAM4 (400G-SR8, FR8, LR8) and 4-way 106Gbps PAM4 (400G-DR4, FR4, LR4) to achieve 400G signal transmission; the electrical port side uses 8-way 53Gbps PAM4 electrical signals, using OSFP or QSFP-DD packaging.

Common 400G optical module types

What scenarios are 400G optical modules suitable for?

400G optical modules, especially QSFP-DD (Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable Double Density) standard optical modules, have become an indispensable component in data center infrastructure. Its high transmission rate and flexible connection method enable data centers to better support large-scale data transmission and computing needs while maintaining low latency and high stability. In core switches, edge switches, routers, servers and other devices in data centers, 400G optical modules are playing a vital role.