Despite the increasing maturity of 200G and 400G technologies, 100G QSFP28 optical transceivers remain an indispensable component of the global data center market due to their mature industry chain, excellent price-performance ratio, and reliable performance.
In 2024, the global 100G QSFP28 SR4 optical transceiver market reached US$452 million in sales and is expected to reach US$727 million in 2031, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.9%. This data demonstrates that despite the emergence of higher-speed technologies, 100G technology continues to maintain steady growth.
The Chinese market has undergone rapid growth in the past few years, accounting for a significant portion of the global market in 2024, and its share is expected to increase further in 2031. This continued growth demonstrates the continued strong market vitality of 100G QSFP28 optical transceivers.
Technical Features and Operating Principles
The 100G QSFP28 optical module utilizes the QSFP28 (Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable) form factor and supports a data rate of 100Gbps (4 x 25Gbps). This module complies with the IEEE 802.3bm 100GBASE-SR4 standard and is suitable for short-haul multimode fiber transmission, with a maximum transmission distance of up to 100 meters (OM4 fiber).
Different types of 100G QSFP28 optical modules utilize different operating principles: The QSFP28-100G-SR4 optical module is a parallel 100G optical module, utilizing four-lane 25G NRZ multimode parallel technology.
On the transmitting end, electrical signals are converted into optical signals by a laser array and then transmitted in parallel over a ribbon multimode fiber. On the receiving end, a photodetector array converts the parallel optical signals into parallel electrical signals.
The QSFP28-100G-LR4 uses 4-channel 25G NRZ wavelength division multiplexing (LWDM4) technology to convert four 25Gbps electrical signals into four LAN WDM optical signals, which are then multiplexed into a single channel to achieve 100G optical transmission.
Mainstream Models and Application Scenarios
There are four main mainstream models of 100G QSFP28 dual-fiber optical modules, each with different features and application scenarios:
QSFP28-100G-SR4: Uses MPO 12-core multimode fiber (OM3/OM4) to achieve transmission distances of 100m or 300m. This model supports the 100GBASE-SR4 Ethernet standard and is suitable for short-distance, high-density data center interconnects.
QSFP28-100G-LR4: Uses single-mode fiber (OS2) with a duplex LC connector to achieve transmission distances of 10km or 20km. This model complies with the 100GBASE-LR4 Ethernet standard and is suitable for metropolitan area networks and data center interconnects.
QSFP28-100G-ER4: Achieves transmission distances of up to 40 km over single-mode fiber. This model supports the 100GBASE-ER4 Ethernet standard and is suitable for long-haul data center interconnects and telecommunications networks.
QSFP28-100G-ZR4: Achieves transmission distances exceeding 80 km over single-mode fiber. This model supports the OIF-100G-ZR standard and is suitable for long-haul connections in wide-area and metropolitan area networks.
Market Landscape and Major Manufacturers
The global 100G QSFP28 optical module market presents a diversified competitive landscape. Major manufacturers include Cisco, Broadcom, Arista Networks, Huawei, Accelink Technologies, Hisense Broadband, Zhongji InnoLight, Sumitomo Electric Industries, ZTE, Source Photonics, and Fujitsu.
These manufacturers compete fiercely in terms of production capacity, sales volume, revenue, price, and market share. Globally, 100G QSFP28 SR4 optical modules are produced in a wide range of regions, with the Chinese market occupying a key position in the global supply chain.
Based on product type, 100G QSFP28 optical modules are primarily categorized as commercial grade (0-70°C) and industrial grade (-40-85°C). This temperature range distinction allows optical modules to adapt to different operating environment requirements.
By application, 100G QSFP28 optical modules are primarily used in data centers, local area networks, and other applications. Data centers represent the largest application market, occupying a significant share.
Future Development Trends and Outlook
Despite the continued advancement of 200G and 400G technologies, 100G QSFP28 optical modules still have broad development prospects in the coming years. The global market size is projected to reach US$727 million by 2031. This continued growth is driven by the mature, stable, and cost-effective advantages of 100G technology.
The industry faces a variety of factors, both favorable and unfavorable. Favorable factors include 5G deployment, growing demand for cloud computing services, and continued investment in data centers; unfavorable factors may include supply chain fluctuations and pressure to upgrade technology.
Industry entry barriers are also worth noting, including technical barriers, funding barriers, certification barriers, and market scale barriers. These barriers give existing market participants certain advantages, while also forcing new entrants to possess stronger innovation capabilities and financial strength.
Final Words
The success of the 100G QSFP28 optical module stems not only from its technical specifications but also from its perfect balance between performance, cost, and power consumption. Even amidst global chip shortages and supply chain challenges, the technology has demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability.
With the rise of edge computing and micro data centers, the 100G QSFP28 optical module may find new application scenarios. It is no longer a technology exclusive to large data centers, but has become a key connectivity component in distributed computing architectures.
