A Comprehensive Guide to SFP Modules: Types, Applications, and Best Practices

4 min readJul 23, 2023

SFP modules play a crucial role in modern networks, enabling seamless data transmission over various media. As a result of continuous advancements, SFPs are now available in diverse categories, catering to specific network requirements. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the different types of SFP modules, their applications, transmission ranges, and transfer rates, empowering you to make informed decisions for your network needs.

Types of SFP Modules:

SFP modules can be categorized based on cable type, transmission range, transfer rate, and application. Let’s delve into each category to understand their differences and applications better.

1. Cable Type:

SFP modules can operate over optical fiber and copper cables. There are two main types based on the optical fiber:

SpecificationMultimode SFPSingle-mode SFPFiber Type62.5/125µm or 50/125µm core MMF9/125µm core SMFWorking WavelengthMainly in 850 nm and 1300 nmMainly in 1310 nm and 1550 nmColor CodingBlackBlue for 1310nm SFP
Yellow for 1550nm SFPTransmission Distance100 m / 500 m2 km up to 200 km

2. XBASE-T SFP Modules:

The IEEE standard XBASE-T defines the requirements for sending information on unshielded twisted-pair cabling, including various aspects of running Ethernet on this cabling. The following XBASE-T SFP modules are commonly used for network applications:

3. Transmission Range:

For shorter distances, multimode SFPs provide an optimal cheaper solution. The most common multimode SFPs are the 850nm wavelength for a maximum of 550 meters. If there’s a need to extend the multimode transmission distance, you can also choose a 1310nm wavelength one for a maximum transmission distance of 2km.

For long reach, single-mode SFPs can transmit anywhere from 10km to 200km. Standard 1310nm LX SFP can reach up to 10km, extended 1310nm EX SFP can reach up to 40km; Standard 1550nm ZX SFP can reach up to 80km, extended 1550nm ZX SFP can reach up to 160km; BiDi SFPs transmission distances vary from 10 km to 160 km when using different wavelengths. The most frequently used wavelength pairs of BiDi SFPs are 1310nm/1550nm, 1310nm/1490nm, and 1510nm/1590nm. When using multiplex wavelengths (DWDM/CWDM), the transmission distances can reach up to 200 km.

4. Transfer Rate:

The trend towards higher speed and higher bandwidth is always unstoppable, from Fast Ethernet to Gigabit Ethernet, and then to 10Gb, 40Gb, 25Gb, and 100Gb Ethernet. Since the development of SFP, modernized advancements have been added to the mix. Namely SFP+ for 10 Gigabit, SFP28 for 25 Gigabit Ethernet, QSFP for 40 Gigabit Ethernet, QSFP28 for 100G Gigabit Ethernet are now available.

More about SFP vs Advanced SFP+/SFP28/QSFP/QSFP28:

SFP Modules Guide

5. Application:

SFP modules find applications in various industries due to their versatility. Some common applications include:

High-definition audio/video transmission and reception
Passive optical networks (PON)
Multiplexing
Simplex networking

Additionally, specific types of SFP modules cater to specialized applications:

SpecificationData RateMediumSpecified DistanceBandwidthUsage100BASE-T SFP100MbpsCat5e100M37.5MHZAutomotive, IoT, M2M100BASE-Tx SFP100MbpsCat5100M31.25MHZLAN 1000BASE-T SFP1000MbpsCat5100M62.5MHZLAN1000BASE-T1 SFP1000MbpsCat6a100M375MHZAutomotive, IoT, M2M2.5GBASE-T SFP2.5GbitsCat5e100M100MHZLAN5GBASE-T SFP5GbitsCat6100M200MHZLAN10GBASE-T SFP10GbitsCat6a100M400MHZLAN

6. Conclusion:

In conclusion, SFP modules are essential components in modern networks, providing a wide range of capabilities to accommodate various network requirements. Understanding the different types of SFP modules, their applications, transmission ranges, and transfer rates is crucial in selecting the best fit for your network needs.

Whether you require short-range transmission over multimode fibers, long-distance connectivity using single-mode fibers, or high-speed data transfer, there is an SFP module to suit your specific application.

Before making your decision, carefully consider factors such as cable type, transmission range, transfer rate, and application to ensure optimal performance and efficiency in your network infrastructure.

Remember, for specialized applications, such as high-definition audio/video transmission, PON, CWDM, DWDM, BiDi, Fibre Channel, or SONET/SDH, there are dedicated SFP modules tailored to meet your requirements.

For all your SFP module needs, you can rely on Gezhi Photonics. They offer a comprehensive range of high-quality and reliable SFP modules to support your network infrastructure. Explore their selection today at https://www.gezhiphotonics.com/.

References:

1. SFP Modules Guide — Gezhi Photonics, https://www.gezhiphotonics.com/sfp-optical-transceiver-module.html

ApplicationDescriptionHigh-definition audio/video transmissionMeets the high standard video transmission needs in the High Definition (HD) environment.PON SFPsUsed in the Optical Line Terminal (OLT) at the Central Office and the Optical Network Terminal/Unit (ONT/ONU) at the subscriber’s premises.CWDM SFPs and DWDM SFPsUtilized by telecom systems in long-distance transmission, allowing transmission of multiple signals simultaneously on a single fiber.BiDi SFPsAllows transmission and reception of data to/from interconnected network devices via a single optical fiber, simplifying cabling systems and reducing cost.Fibre Channel SFPA high-speed network technology primarily used to connect computer data storage to servers in the SAN data center environment.SONET/SDH SFPCompatible with the SONET/SDH and ATM standard, covering a range of data rates for various applications.