100G QSFP28 transceivers

What is QSFP28?

QSFP28 (Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable 28) is a compact transceiver form factor designed for high-capacity 100G Ethernet. By providing four lanes of 25G, QSFP28 enables a streamlined upgrade path from lower-speed networks, making it a popular choice for scaling data center interconnect (DCI) and service provider networks. The high port density and low power consumption of QSFP28 make it ideal for cost-efficient 100G deployments to meet growing bandwidth needs.

Coherent 100G QSFP28 vs. PAM4 100G QSFP28

Coherent 100G QSFP28 brings the performance benefits and extended reach of 400ZR technology to 100G under the 100ZR standard, making it a popular choice in metro and regional networks. On the other hand, PAM4 QSFP28 optics offer a low-power, cost-effective solution optimized for shorter-range switch interoperability in data center environments.

Read more about why Coherent 100G QSFP28 is popular and how it differs from PAM 100G QSFP28. 

Smartoptics range of QSFP28 transceivers

Smartoptics offers a wide selection of QSFP28 transceivers designed to support 100G Ethernet across different networking environments.

• Coherent QSFP28 – Higher performance with wavelength tunability and extended reach up to hundreds of kilometers for metro, regional and long-haul networks. 
• PAM4 QSFP28 – Cost-effective for high-density DCI and enterprise networks with lower power consumption ensuring wider switch compatibility. 
• ZR4 QSFP28 – Supports distances up to 80 km, ideal for long-distance DCI and service provider networks without requiring amplifiers. 
• SR4 QSFP28 – Enables 100G transmission over multimode fiber up to 100 meters, offering a compact solution for short-range intra-data center connectivity.

All Smartoptics QSFP28 transceivers provide seamless integration with major switch platforms, ensuring flexibility in both greenfield and brownfield network deployments.

Selected Smartoptics QSFP28 transceiver benefits

• Max performance and 100s of km reach with coherent QSFP28
• Cost-optimized PAM4 QSFP28 for enterprise DCI
• Breaks out to 4× 25G SFP28 connections for flexible scaling
• Interoperable with major switch and transport vendors
• For distances ranging from within a data center to metro, regional and long-haul
• Enhanced digital diagnostic information via I2C interface
• Rigorously tested for thermal, electrical and optical reliability
• Dedicated 24/7 in-house support
• Multi-source agreement (MSA) compliant

QSFP28 vs. QSFP+ – Key differences

Many organizations compare QSFP28 vs. QSFP+ when planning network upgrades. While both transceivers share a similar form factor, QSFP28 supports higher data rates and more advanced modulation technologies.

By upgrading from QSFP+ to QSFP28, networks can increase speed and optimize bandwidth utilization. If it fits your current network setup better, learn more about Smartoptics QSFP+ transceivers.