The speed of an SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) fiber optic cable is determined by the type of transceiver module used with the cable. SFP modules can support various data rates depending on the specific standard or protocol they are designed for. Here are common data rates associated with different SFP modules: 

1. 1 Gbps (Gigabit per second): SFP modules supporting Gigabit Ethernet operate at a data rate of 1 Gbps. These are commonly used for network connections with a data transfer rate of 1 gigabit per second.

2. 10 Gbps (10 Gigabit per second): SFP+ (enhanced Small Form-Factor Pluggable) modules operate at a data rate of 10 Gbps. They are used in 10 Gigabit Ethernet and other high-speed networking applications.

3. 25 Gbps (25 Gigabit per second): SFP28 modules support a data rate of 25 Gbps. These are used in applications such as 25 Gigabit Ethernet.

4. 40 Gbps (40 Gigabit per second): QSFP+ (Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable) modules operate at a data rate of 40 Gbps. They are used for 40 Gigabit Ethernet and other high-speed connections.

5. 100 Gbps (100 Gigabit per second): QSFP28 modules support a data rate of 100 Gbps. They are used in applications requiring 100 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity.

6. 200 Gbps (200 Gigabit per second) and 400 Gbps (400 Gigabit per second): QSFP-DD (Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable Double Density) modules are designed for higher data rates, including 200 Gbps and 400 Gbps, depending on the specific module.

It's essential to match the SFP module and fiber optic cable with the appropriate data rate and protocol requirements of the network equipment you are using. Additionally, the distance over which the fiber optic cable is deployed (e.g., short-range, long-range) can impact the choice of SFP module and cable type. Always refer to the equipment specifications and compatibility guidelines provided by the manufacturers for accurate information.

How to Choose an Ethernet SFP Module?

Choose SFP Copper or Fiber Module?

SFP module comes in various types on the basis of different classification standards. It works with copper Ethernet cables or fiber optical cables.

On the fiber optics side, there are single mode SFP module and multimode SFP module, which allows users to select the appropriate transceiver according to the required optical range for the network. Operation wavelength ranges from 850nm to 1550nm. Commonly, 850nm SFP can reach up to 550 meters with multimode fiber optics, and the 1550nm SFP supports up to a maximum of 160km via single mode fiber cables. On the other hand, copper SFP modules primarily are 1000BASE-T SFP and 1000BASE-TX SFP modules, which are excellent used in gigabit Ethernet networking within 100 meters.

Choose SFP or Advanced SFP+?

SFP and SFP+ are applied at different transmission speeds. SFP module supports 1Gb data rate, and the SFP type includes 1000base-T/TX, 1000base-SX, 1000base-LX/LX10, 1000base-BX10, 1000base-LX/LH, 1000base-EX, 1000base-ZX and so on.

SFP+ is used in 10-gigabit Ethernet applications but shares the same form factor with SFP. In the SFP+ family, there are primarily SFP+ SR, SFP+ LR, and SFP+ ZR modules for 10 Gigabit ethernet networking.

Choose an MSA Compatible SFP or Not?

Compatibility is often the most important parameter users care about when buying an MSA SFP module. MSA (multi-source agreement) is an agreement supported by a number of manufacturers who came together to collaborate and standardize the fit-form and try to provide a reliable mean of mixing and matching SFP brands successfully. Third-party companies also have developed their own tools to program SFP modules to be compatible with the OEM. So, the MSA compatibility Gigabit SFP module can be used successfully in most networks.

SFP vs. SFP+

Here is a table of comparison between SFP and SFP+