Wavelength
Wavelength
· Jomplair · Lexicon Lab

SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) Transmission Rate

  1. Overview of SFP Transmission Rate

The transmission rate of an SFP module refers to the speed at which data is transmitted over the optical or copper link. It is a critical parameter that determines the performance and compatibility of the SFP module with network devices (e.g., switches, routers). Transmission rates are typically measured in bits per second (bps) and are often expressed in standardized units like Mbps, Gbps, or Tbps.

  1. Common SFP Transmission Rates

SFP modules support a range of transmission rates, depending on their type and application:

  • Fast Ethernet: 100 Mbps (100BASE-FX, 100BASE-TX).
  • Gigabit Ethernet: 1 Gbps (1000BASE-SX, 1000BASE-LX, 1000BASE-T).
  • 10 Gigabit Ethernet: 10 Gbps (SFP+ modules, 10GBASE-SR, 10GBASE-LR).
  • 25 Gigabit Ethernet: 25 Gbps (SFP28 modules).
  • 40/100 Gigabit Ethernet: 40 Gbps (QSFP+), 100 Gbps (QSFP28).
  1. Units of Transmission Rate

Transmission rates are expressed in bits per second (bps) and its derivatives:

Unit

Full Name

Value

Example

bps

Bits per second

1 bit per second

100 bps (low-speed serial links)

Kbps

Kilobits per second

1,000 bps

64 Kbps (DS0 channel)

Mbps

Megabits per second

1,000,000 bps

100 Mbps (Fast Ethernet)

Gbps

Gigabits per second

1,000,000,000 bps

1 Gbps (Gigabit Ethernet)

Tbps

Terabits per second

1,000,000,000,000 bps

1 Tbps (high-speed backbone)
  1. Factors Affecting Transmission Rate
  • SFP Type:
    • Multimode (MMF): Shorter distances, lower cost (e.g., 1000BASE-SX).
    • Singlemode (SMF): Longer distances, higher cost (e.g., 1000BASE-LX).
  • Wavelength:
    • 850 nm (MMF), 1310 nm (SMF), or 1550 nm (long-haul SMF).
  • Fiber Type:
    • OM1/OM2/OM3/OM4 for MMF; OS1/OS2 for SMF.
  • Distance:
    • Longer distances may reduce effective transmission rates due to signal attenuation.
  1. Practical Examples
  • 1000BASE-SX:
    • Transmission Rate: 1 Gbps.
    • Wavelength: 850 nm.
    • Distance: Up to 550 meters (OM3 fiber).
  • 10GBASE-LR:
    • Transmission Rate: 10 Gbps.
    • Wavelength: 1310 nm.
    • Distance: Up to 10 kilometers (SMF).
  • SFP28 (25G):
    • Transmission Rate: 25 Gbps.
    • Wavelength: 850 nm or 1310 nm.
    • Distance: Up to 100 meters (MMF) or 10 kilometers (SMF).
  1. Importance of Transmission Rate
  • Network Performance: Higher rates enable faster data transfer, reducing latency and improving throughput.
  • Scalability: Supports growing bandwidth demands (e.g., cloud computing, video streaming).
  • Compatibility: Ensures interoperability with network devices and infrastructure.

 

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