In today’s rapidly evolving optical communication landscape, the 100G QSFP28 ZR4 1310nm 80km LC optical module plays a pivotal role in enabling high-speed, long-distance data transmission. This module serves as a critical component that converts electrical signals into optical signals for fiber transmission and vice versa—like a high-efficiency messenger in the digital world, ensuring fast and stable communication between devices.

   Univiso 100GBase-ZR4 QSFP28 80km (SMF, 1310nm, EML, (with host FEC)

Understanding the Name and Its Key Features

The name of this module provides essential insight into its technical characteristics:

• 100G: Indicates a transmission rate of 100 Gbps, ideal for large-scale data processing in data centers, telecom backbones, and cloud computing environments.

• QSFP28: A compact, hot-pluggable form factor that supports four channels of 25Gbps each. It’s widely used in switches and routers due to its ease of deployment and maintenance.

• ZR4: Refers to its use of LWDM4 (LAN-WDM with 4 wavelengths) transmission technology, enabling four-channel bidirectional data exchange for better efficiency.

• 1310nm: The operating wavelength, chosen for its low attenuation and high bandwidth in single-mode fiber (SMF), ensuring signal integrity over long distances.

• 80km: Represents the maximum transmission distance on SMF—up to 80km, and up to 90km when forward error correction (FEC) is enabled.

• LC: The module uses LC duplex connectors, known for compact size and high reliability, making them widely adopted in optical networking.

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How It Works: Core Transmission Technology

The core of this module lies in its 4x28G NRZ wavelength division multiplexing (LWDM4) architecture. Here's how it functions:

1. At the transmitter side, four separate 28Gbps electrical signals are converted into optical signals using four laser drivers and distributed across distinct wavelengths (e.g., 1295.56nm, 1300.05nm, 1304.58nm, 1309.14nm).

2. These wavelengths are combined using a multiplexer (MUX) and transmitted through a single fiber.

3. On the receiving end, a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) boosts the signal, followed by a demultiplexer (DEMUX) that splits the wavelengths back into four channels.

4. Each optical signal is detected by a PIN photodiode and converted into electrical signals, which are then amplified and retimed using a transimpedance amplifier and clock data recovery (CDR) circuit to restore the original 28Gbps electrical signals.

This architecture maximizes the capacity of a single fiber by allowing multiple wavelengths to be transmitted simultaneously, significantly improving transmission efficiency and reducing infrastructure costs.

Performance Highlights That Set It Apart

The 100G QSFP28 ZR4 module excels in multiple performance dimensions:

• High Speed: Supports a total data rate of up to 103.125Gbps (4x25.78125Gbps), easily handling data center workloads and cloud applications.

• Long Reach: Delivers up to 80km transmission over SMF, and up to 90km when FEC is enabled—perfect for metro and long-haul networks.

• Low Power Consumption: Maximum power consumption is under 6W, helping reduce operating costs and achieve energy-efficient deployments.

• Wide Compatibility: Compliant with the CAUI-4 electrical interface standard and interoperable with major network platforms.

• Robust Environmental Adaptability: Operates reliably in a temperature range of 0°C to 70°C, suitable for diverse deployment environments, including harsh outdoor or industrial settings.

With its combination of high bandwidth, long reach, low power usage, and robust performance, the 100G QSFP28 ZR4 1310nm 80km LC module is a go-to solution for next-generation high-speed optical networks.