How to choose connector for optical transceivers

TOP
Column
How to choose c……

2022.02.22

Optical transceiver connectors are used as interfaces of optical transceivers for network equipment.

Optical transceiver is the device for converting “electrical signals” and “optical signals”, and with the increase of communication network bandwidth in recent years, demand as a main parts is increasing for connecting devices at high speed in data centers.

This article shows standards and how to choose the optical transceiver connectors.

Category of Data-Networking		Communication distance
Core network		Mainly between the city (More than 100km)
Metro network		Mainly in the city (About 10～300km)
Access network	Datacenter network	Mostly for Datacenter（About several tens of kilometers）
	Wireless access network	Mostly for Smart phones（About several tens of kilometers）
	Fixed access network	Mostly for computers（About several tens of kilometers）

Types of equipment used in Data-Networking

For each telecommunication network, these devices are used as following table.

Network equipment	Data-Networking
Core network	Medium range optical transmission equipment and routers
Datacenter Network	Routers, Ethernet switches, Servers, Storage
Wireless access Network	RRH、BBU、RU、DU、CU
Fixed access Network	OLT（Optical Line Terminal for telecom company） ONU（Optical Network Unit for office and house）

Standards and product lineup of connectors for optical transceivers

The connector for the optical transceiver can be selected according to the standard of the network equipment used in the telecommunication network.

By selecting the appropriate connector for each standard, stable communication with less distortion can be achieved.

CFP

CFP stands for <Centum Form-factor Pluggable> and is a large module that enables large-capacity and high-speed communication such as 40 Gbps and 100 Gbps.

There are standards depending on the specifications and characteristics such as CFP / CFP2 / CFP4 / CFP8.

SFP

SFP stands for〈Small Form-factor Pluggable〉and is a small module that is widely used in various devices including data centers, switching hubs, and routers.

There are standards such as SFP / QSFP / DSFP / OSFP depending on the specifications and characteristics.

Product lineup

Standards		Series	Internet speed
CFP	CFP	CA009 Series	40Gbps/100Gbps
	CFP2	CN121 Series	40Gbps/100Gbps
	CFP2 Mid Mount		NRZ 28Gbps
	CFP4		40Gbps/100Gbps
	CFP8	CN168 Series	400Gbps
SFP	SFP28	CN109 Series	25Gbps
	QSFP25 Style B	CN120 Series	40Gbps/100Gbps
	QSFP56	CN120 Series	200Gbps
	QSFP-DD Single	CN174 Series	56Gbps
	DSFP	CN109 Series	56Gbps
	OSFP Single	CN176 Series	56Gbps

How does the standard of connectors for Optical transceivers will be decided?

Standard of connectors for Optical transceivers are offered to the market after being approved by various standards organization.

Main steps for creating standard

1）Decide transmission specification

Transmission specification is determined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a technology standardization organization headquartered in the United States.

2）Decide the base of each items

OIF (Optical Internetworking Forum) an industry forum that promotes interoperability of optical/electric communications and control will determine the base of each items.

3）Decide the standard details of each items

MSA（Multi Source Agreement）the standardizing organization of optical transceivers will decide the standard details of each items, and offered to the market.