Why is it called QSFP28？

QSFP28 stands for Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable 28. The "Quad" refers to the four lanes of high-speed data transmission, while "Small Form-Factor Pluggable" indicates the small, hot-swappable form factor of the module. Lastly, "28" signifies the module's ability to support data rates of up to 28 gigabits per second per lane.

The SFP28 form factor is similar in size and appearance to the SFP+ form factor but supports a much higher speed of 28Gbps, hence the name “SFP28”.

Simply put, SFP28 is an enhanced version of SFP+ designed for 25G or 28G connectivity. It has the same form factor and appearance as the SFP+ but supports up to 28Gbps electrical interfaces per channel.

The SFP28 products are usually classified as SFP28 modules and SFP28 ports. Generally, the SFP28 module includes an SFP28 transceiver, SFP28 DAC, and AOC cable.

Unlike the SFP28 module, the SFP28 port is typically assembled in the networking switch and BBU device in the wireless station to accept the suitable transceiver.

SFP28 vs SFP+, What is the difference?

Form	Standard	Datarate	Wavelength	Media	Distance	Connector	DOM	Size	Power Consumption	Application
SFP+	SFP+ MSA	8G 10G 16G	850nm 1310nm 1550nm CWDM DWDM BiDi Copper	OM3 OM4 SMF Twinax	120km	LC RJ-45	Yes	Similar to SFP	Lower	Ethernet Fiber Channel CPRI Datacenter
SFP28	IEEE 802.3by SFP28 MSA	25G 32G	850nm 1310nm CWDM DWDM BiDi Copper	OM3 OM4 SMF Twinax	40km	LC	Yes	Similar to SFP	Higher	Datacenter Cloud computing

Frequently Asked Question

Can I use SFP28 transceivers in SFP+ ports?

The answer is yes, because SFP28 is backward compatible with SFP+ ports and can be fully functional. However, you should ensure the SFP28 transceiver supports a dual rate of 10G/25G, which says it is 10G/25GbE SFP28.

Can I use SFP+ Transceivers in SFP28 ports?No, you can not use the SFP+ transceiver in the SFP28 port. The SFP28 port supports a 25G or 32GFC data rate, whereas the SFP+ transceiver typically supports a 10G data rate.

However, if the switch allows setting the port data rate to 10Gbps, you may use the SFP+ in the SFP28 port. The SFP28 port acts as a 10G SFP+ port in this case.

Key benefits of 25G SFP28 Transceiver

Run business applications and services faster with 5x throughput, with similar economic benefits to 10GbE
Future-proof infrastructure, backward compatible with 10G, easier to migrate to 100G
Economic advantages of cost and revenue generation using an open network architecture
It runs on cables like 10G, so switching to 25G does not require any cabling infrastructure upgrades – it is fully compatible with the existing 10G cabling infrastructure.
Reduce capital and operating expenses: Deploying SFP28 to build 25G networks enables organizations to reduce the number of switches and cables required significantly. And reduce the cost of space, power, and cooling facilities compared to 10G and 40G technologies.