100GBASE-ER4 Lite QSFP28 Compatible Transceiver: 100G-QSFP28-40
100GBASE-ER4 Lite QSFP28 Transceiver Overview
The 100G-QSFP28-40 is a 100GBASE-ER4 Lite QSFP28 transceiver for extended-reach metro, regional, and storage-network links. Four LAN-WDM channels at 1295.56, 1300.05, 1304.58 and 1309.14 nm support multi-rate operation: 100G Ethernet at 103.125 Gbps, OTU4 at 112 Gbps, and 4x 32G Fibre Channel at 112.2 Gbps over single-mode fiber, with 22 dB link budget when host FEC is enabled and 18 dB without FEC. LC/UPC duplex interface, DDM supported via SFF-8636.
- Media Type: Single-Mode Fiber (SMF)
- Connector: Double LC/UPC
- Fiber Count: Duplex
- Maximum Distance: 40 km
- Average Link Budget: 22 dB
- Tx Wavelength: 1310 nm
- Supported Data Rate: 112 Gbps
- DDM/DOM: Supported
- Forward Error Correction (FEC): Host FEC Supported
- Temperature Range: Standard 0°-70°C
100GBASE-ER4 Lite QSFP28 Pricing
SKU:100G-QSFP28-40
In Stock - Ships Next Business Day100GBASE-ER4 Lite QSFP28 Compatible Transceiver Specification
Form Factor | QSFP28 |
Modulation | NRZ (Non-Return to Zero) |
Media Type | Single-Mode Fiber (SMF) |
Connector | Double LC/UPC |
Fiber Count | Duplex |
Maximum Distance | 40 km |
Average Link Budget | 22 dB |
TX Wavelength | 4-channel LAN WDM (1295.56/1300.05/1304.58/1309.14 nm) |
RX Wavelength | 4-channel LAN WDM (1295.56/1300.05/1304.58/1309.14 nm) |
Supported Data Rate | 112 Gbps |
Supported Ethernet Applications | 100G Ethernet (103.125 Gbps) |
Supported Fiber Channel Applications | 4x 32G Fiber Channel (112.2Gbps) |
Optical Transport Network (OTN) Applications | OTU4 (112 Gbps) |
DDM/DOM | Supported |
Forward Error Correction (FEC) | Host FEC Supported |
Transmitter Type | EML Laser |
Tx Wave Bandwidth | 4 LAN WDM Seperated 1310 nm Lanes (15.66 nm 1294.53 – 1310.19nm) (L0 Tx center 1295.56nm, L1 Tx center 1300.05nm, L2 Tx center 1304.58nm, L3 Tx center 1309.14nm) |
Average Launch Power (Min) Each Lane | -2 dBm |
Average Launch Power (Max) Each Lane | 4 dBm |
Extinction Ratio (Min) | 4 dB |
Receiver Type | APD Photodiode |
RX Wave Bandwidth | 4 LAN WDM Seperated 1310 nm Lanes (15.66 nm 1294.53 – 1310.19nm) (L0 Tx center 1295.56nm, L1 Tx center 1300.05nm, L2 Tx center 1304.58nm, L3 Tx center 1309.14nm) |
Average Receiver Sensitivity (Min) Each Lane | -21 dBm |
Average Receiver Sensitivity (Max) Each Lane | -18 dBm |
Receiver Overload | -1 dBm |
Temperature Range | Standard 0°-70°C |
Storage Temperature | -40° to 85°C |
Relative Humidity | 5 to 85% |
Power Consumption (Max) | 4.5 W |
Power | +3.3V single power supply |
Compliance | CE, RoHS, Class 1 FDA and IEC60825-1 Laser Safety Compliant, IEEE 802.3ba, IEEE 802.3bm, 100GBASE-ER4 Lite, 128GFC Gen 6, OTN OTU4, QSFP28 MSA, SFF-8636 (Management Interface for 4-lane modules), SFF-8665 |
100GBASE-ER4 Lite QSFP28 Compatible Transceiver Datasheet
v2Complete technical specifications and product details
100GBASE-ER4 Lite QSFP28 Compatible Transceiver Description
The EdgeOptic 100G-QSFP28-40 is a multi-vendor compatible 100GBASE-ER4 Lite QSFP28 transceiver designed for 100 Gigabit Ethernet, OTN OTU4, and Fibre Channel links over single-mode fiber. The module operates over four LAN-WDM optical lanes with NRZ modulation, supporting 103.125 Gbps for 100GE, 112 Gbps for OTU4, and 112.2 Gbps for 4x 32G Fibre Channel, i.e. 112 Gbps maximum aggregate line rate. Target deployments are metro aggregation, regional backbone, data center interconnect, and storage-network extension spans where LR4's 10 km reach is insufficient and full ER4 power is impractical.
The four LAN-WDM channels are centered at 1295.56, 1300.05, 1304.58 and 1309.14 nm. The transmit path uses an EML (Electro-absorption Modulated Laser) array; the receive path uses an APD (Avalanche Photodiode) array. APD sensitivity is what extends the reach into the 40 km range at QSFP28 power; the trade-off is a tighter overload threshold on short fiber runs (see attenuator FAQ below).
Optical link budget is 22 dB with host RS-FEC enabled and 18 dB without FEC. Transmit power is -2 to +4 dBm per lane. Receive sensitivity is -21 dBm with FEC and -18 dBm without FEC. Receiver overload is -1 dBm. With host RS-FEC, the module supports 40 km over standard SMF; without FEC, reach is reduced and depends on actual cabling attenuation. Reach figures are calculated from the link budget and typical fiber loss; verify against the deployed plant attenuation.
The optical interface is an LC/UPC duplex connector. The module is a hot-pluggable QSFP28 conforming to QSFP28 MSA, with management and electrical interfaces per SFF-8636 and SFF-8665. DDM/DOM provides real-time telemetry on transmit power, receive power, module temperature, laser bias current, and supply voltage. Host FEC is required for the full 22 dB / 40 km specification; the module itself does not perform FEC internally.
100GBASE-ER4 Lite is an industry specification for QSFP28-form-factor 40 km reach; the optical PMD is OEM-defined and not part of IEEE 802.3. The 100G MAC and PCS follow IEEE 802.3ba, and the QSFP28 CAUI-4 chip-to-module electrical interface follows IEEE 802.3bm; the ER4 Lite optical layer reuses the LR4 LAN-WDM grid (1295.56 / 1300.05 / 1304.58 / 1309.14 nm) extended to 40 km. The 100G-QSFP28-40 supports multi-protocol operation: 100G Ethernet at 103.125 Gbps, OTU4 at 112 Gbps for optical transport networks, and 4x 32G Fibre Channel at 112.2 Gbps for storage-network extension. The module complies with the 100GBASE-ER4 Lite specification, QSFP28 MSA, SFF-8636 and SFF-8665, and is CE / RoHS certified, Class 1 FDA and IEC60825-1 Laser Safety compliant.
The 100G-QSFP28-40 is codeable to match Cisco, Juniper, Nokia, Arista, Dell EMC, Ciena, Extreme Networks, HPE Aruba, Huawei, Brocade, Fujitsu and other major vendor EEPROM profiles, covering 25+ vendor platforms in the EdgeOptic catalog. Each compatible variant is coded so the host platform recognizes the module without disabling unsupported-transceiver checks. Verify the specific platform listing against the vendor's transceiver compatibility matrix before deployment.
Operating temperature is 0 to 70 degrees C, storage is -40 to 85 degrees C, and maximum power consumption is 4.5 W on a single +3.3 V supply. Each module ships after optical parameter measurement, connector cleanliness inspection, and EEPROM data validation, so the unit you receive matches the published spec sheet.
Backed by 15+ years of EdgeOptic compatibility engineering across vendor optical platforms. Ships next business day from EU stock with a lifetime warranty. For platform-specific coding, bulk pricing, or premium-temperature variants, contact our sales team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 100GBASE-ER4 and ER4 Lite?
Standard 100GBASE-ER4 is available in CFP and CFP2 form factors with power consumption of 8-24 W. It reaches 40 km without requiring FEC. ER4 Lite was designed for the compact QSFP28 form factor at 4.5 W by using a lower-power optical architecture with APD receivers. The trade-off is a tighter optical link budget (22 dB with FEC, 18 dB without) and a host-FEC requirement for the full 40 km specification.
Does 100GBASE-ER4 Lite require FEC?
Not strictly. Without FEC the optical budget is 18 dB, so reach is shorter than the 40 km specification and depends on the link's actual cabling attenuation. With host RS-FEC enabled the budget grows to 22 dB, supporting the full 40 km design reach over standard SMF. The host platform must support RS-FEC for the 40 km specification, so check your switch or router documentation to confirm RS-FEC is supported on the relevant QSFP28 ports.
Do I need an optical attenuator for short-distance ER4 Lite links?
Yes. ER4 Lite modules use APD receivers that can be damaged by excessive optical power on short fiber runs. A fiber attenuator is required for links significantly shorter than the maximum reach. Consult the module datasheet for the minimum link attenuation value, which is determined by the transmitter output power and APD receiver overload threshold.
What is the difference between ER4 Lite and LR4?
Both use the same four LAN-WDM wavelengths in a QSFP28 form factor. LR4 reaches 10 km with a 6.3 dB link budget, using PIN receivers at 3.5 W. ER4 Lite reaches up to 40 km (with FEC) using APD receivers at 4.5 W. LR4 PIN receivers have higher overload tolerance, so attenuators are rarely needed. ER4 Lite APD receivers require attenuators on short links. Choose LR4 for distances up to 10 km; ER4 Lite for 10-40 km metro and DCI links.
What is the difference between ER4 Lite and 4WDM-40?
Both 100GBASE-ER4 Lite and 4WDM-40 are 40 km QSFP28 variants using the same four LAN-WDM wavelengths at 1295.56, 1300.05, 1304.58 and 1309.14 nm with EML transmitters and APD receivers, and both require host FEC for the full 40 km reach. The two practical differences are spec governance and protocol scope. 4WDM-40 is the 4WDM MSA-standardized variant (published 2017) and is 100GE-only by spec. 100GBASE-ER4 Lite is OEM-defined and predates the 4WDM MSA; many ER4 Lite implementations (including the EdgeOptic 100G-QSFP28-40) extend coverage to OTU4 (112 Gbps) and 4x 32G Fibre Channel (112.2 Gbps) at the same 40 km reach. Selection is driven by which name appears on the platform's transceiver compatibility list and whether OTN or Fibre Channel transport is required at the link layer.
Is 100GBASE-ER4 Lite an IEEE standard?
No. 100GBASE-ER4 Lite is an industry specification, not an IEEE standard. IEEE 802.3ba defines 100GBASE-LR4 (10 km) and SR10; IEEE 802.3bm covers QSFP28 variants such as SR4. Neither clause covers ER4 Lite. The 4WDM MSA later standardized a similar 40 km QSFP28 variant (4WDM-40), but ER4 Lite is not part of the 4WDM MSA either. This is why ER4 Lite parts from different OEMs can show small differences in link budget, BER target, and operating temperature, and why interoperability should be verified against each platform's compatibility documentation rather than against an IEEE clause.
Which vendor platforms support 100GBASE-ER4 Lite QSFP28?
100GBASE-ER4 Lite QSFP28 is supported across major switch and router OEMs. EdgeOptic compatibles in this family cover Cisco (QSFP-100G-ER4L-S), Juniper (QSFP-100G-ER4L), Arista (QSFP-100G-ERL4), Nokia / Alcatel-Lucent (3HE11239AA, QSFP-100G-ER4), Dell EMC (407-BBZX), Ciena (160-9404-900, XCVR-Q30V31), HPE Aruba (JL743A), Huawei (QSFP-100G-ER4-Lite), Extreme Networks (100G-ER4LT-QSFP40KM), Brocade / Ruckus (E100G-QSFP28-ER4L), Edgecore, ADVA, Fujitsu and other vendor part numbers, totaling 25+ platforms in the EdgeOptic catalog. Each compatible is coded for the host vendor's EEPROM profile. Confirm the exact host model against the platform's transceiver compatibility list, or contact our sales team for verification.