200GE optical module with 4 wavelengths

200G QSFP56 optical modules achieve 200GE connectivity using 4 wavelengths with 4x50Gb/s PAM4 channels, suitable for both short- and long-reach applications.

Overview200

G QSFP56 transceivers use four parallel channels, each carrying 50Gb/s PAM4 signals, to reach an aggregate 200G Ethernet speed. These modules operate on four distinct wavelengths, either in the 850nm range for multimode fiber or on the ITU G. 694.

2 CWDM grid near 1300nm for single-mode fiber, enabling flexible deployment in data centers and telecom networks. Wavelength ConfigurationsShort-Reach (SR4): Uses 4 channels at 850nm over multimode fiber, typically supporting distances up to 100 meters with FEC.

Long-

Reach (LR4 / FR4): Uses 4 CWDM or LWDM wavelengths near 1300nm, e.g., 1295. 56nm, 1300. 05nm, 1304.

58nm, and 1309. 14nm, over single-mode fiber, supporting distances from 2 km (FR4) up to 10–20 km (LR4) with FEC.

Standards and Interfaces

Electrical Interface: Compliant with 200GAUI-4 as defined by IEEE 802. 3cd/bs. Form Factor: QSFP56, compatible with QSFP28 physical dimensions but supporting 4x50G PAM4 lanes instead of 4x25G NRZ.

Applications: Interconnects between switches, breakout scenarios (e.g., 400G to 2x200G), and high-speed data center or telecom links.

Key Features

Modulation: PAM4 (Pulse Amplitude Modulation 4-level) doubles data throughput per lane compared to NRZ. Fiber Compatibility: Supports multimode fiber (MMF) for short distances and single-mode fiber (SMF) for longer distances. Deployment Flexibility: Suitable for intra-data-center links, metro networks, and 5G infrastructure.

High Port Density: Compact QSFP56 form factor allows dense switch interconnects while maintaining low power consumption.

Summary

A 200GE optical module with 4 wavelengths provides a high-speed, scalable solution for modern networks. By leveraging 4x50Gb/s PAM4 channels and multiple wavelength channels, these modules efficiently support both short- and long-distance connections, comply with IEEE standards, and enable flexible deployment in data centers, cloud networks, and telecom environments.