Smooth video streaming, instant cloud file transfers, and 24/7 high-speed operation of big data centers all rely on an unassuming "network hero"—the 100G QSFP28 optical module. Many people only know about its fast network speed, but they don't understand its true capabilities, applicable scenarios, or the most common pitfalls in choosing it.

Today, we 'll use super easy-to-understand, practical information to summarize the core knowledge points of the 100G QSFP28 optical module, helping you solve selection problems and avoid networking pitfalls!

I. Core Technical Characteristics of 100G QSFP28 Optical Module

The mainstream 100G QSFP28 optical module features small size and low power consumption, includes NRZ and PAM4 modulation modes, and is compatible with 850nm and 1310nm bands to achieve short-distance to medium-to-long-distance transmission, making it suitable for various data center network deployments.

II. Comprehensive Selection Guide for 100G QSFP28 Optical Module

Reference Model	Type	Wavelength	Fiber Patch Cord	Distance	Connector	Applicable Scenarios
EQP85Y-01D	100G QSFP28 SR4	850nm	Multimode OM3/OM4	70~100m	MPO	High-speed stacking of data centers and short-distance interconnection of servers
EQP31Y-05D	100G QSFP28 DR1	1310nm	Single-mode OS2	500m	LC	Horizontal cabling inside large data centers
EQP27Y-10D	100G QSFP28 CWDM4	1270~1330nm	Single-mode OS2	2~10km	LC	Park building and metropolitan area access layer networking
EQP31Y-2D	100G QSFP28 FR1	1310nm	Single-mode OS2	2km	LC	Point-to-point interconnection between nearby stations within the same city
EQP29Y-10D	100G QSFP28 LR4	1310nm	Single-mode OS2	10~20km	LC	Metropolitan area backbone and government/enterprise dedicated line cross-site transmission
EQP31Y-10D	100G QSFP28 LR1	1310nm	Single-mode OS2	10km	LC	Economy-oriented, simplified urban express line
EQPDxxY-10D	100G QSFP28 O-Band DWDM	1295.56 ~1312.58nm	Single-mode OS2	10km	LC	Operator wavelength division multiplexing and co-fiber capacity expansion
EQP29Y-40D	100G QSFP28 ER4	1310nm	Single-mode OS2	40km	LC	Cross-county backbone and outdoor medium-to-long-distance dedicated lines
EQP31Y-40D	100G QSFP28 ER1	1310nm	Single-mode OS2	30~40km	LC	Suburban cross-regional cabling without repeaters
EQP29Y-80D	100G QSFP28 ZR4	1310nm	Single-mode OS2	80km	LC	Remote base stations, long-distance backbone without relays
EQP29Y-A0D	100G QSFP28 eZR4	1310nm	Single-mode OS2	100km	LC	Cross-provincial ultra-long-distance wide-area backbone transmission
EQP89Y-01D	100G QSFP28 SWDM4	850nm	Multimode OM4	100m	LC	LC interface high-density data center short-distance cabling

Data source: ETU-LINK Optical Communications official website

Ⅲ.Core Conclusions on Product Selection

1)Selecting by Fiber Type: Multimode OM3/OM4 patch cords are compatible with SR4 and SWDM4 and are only used for short distances within 100 meters; Single-mode OS2 patch cords are compatible with all other single-mode numbers and meet the requirements for long-distance transmission over kilometers.