NEC Corporation has expanded its lineup of optical transceivers for 100Gb/s transmission, and has started selling the new “100G QSFP28 ZR4 BiDi,” which extends transmission distance to 80km, from today. This product is an improved version of the dual-fiber 100Gb/s transceiver that uses two fibers, and it achieves bi-directional data transmission in both the upstream and downstream directions using a single fiber.
In recent years, the spread of AI and video distribution services has led to an ever-increasing amount of data traffic, and demand for optical transceivers that connect data centers is expected to increase. At the same time, in response to the increase in data traffic, there is a continuous challenge to reduce the overall power consumption, latency, and cost of systems.
This optical transceiver achieves high-capacity communication over distances of up to 80 km using a direct detection method rather than a coherent method. It can also achieve bi-directional communication over a single fiber, making it possible to achieve low-power consumption, low-latency, low-cost direct connections between data centers. This contributes to lowering the power consumption, latency, and cost of the entire optical network system.
Features of the new NEC Corporation product include the following:
- Cost Efficiency: The new transceiver uses a compact filter to enable bi-directional transmission on a single fiber through wavelength multiplexing, reducing the number of fibers required. This lowers fiber procurement and rental costs, supporting cost-effective network construction.
- High-Quality Long-Distance Transmission: Equipped with a high-output laser and optical amplifier, it secures a 30dB link budget for 80km transmission. It supports both Ethernet (103Gb/s) and OTU4 (111.8Gb/s) signal rates, ensuring reliable, long-distance communication.
- Compatibility with Existing Devices: The transceiver’s interface matches conventional 100G QSFP28 products with power consumption under 5.5W. Its direct detection method ensures low latency and cost, simplifying integration into existing systems.
Product Specifications
| Form factor | QSFP28 |
| Bit rate | 103.125Gb/s (Ethernet signal) 111.8Gb/s (OTU4 signal *Optional) |
| Wavelength (uplink) | 1273.55/1277.89/1282.26/1286.66nm |
| Wavelength (downlink) | 1295.56/1300.05/1304.58/1309.14nm |
| Link budget | 30dB or more |
| Optical interface | 4 x 25.78Gb/s（NRZ） |
| Electrical interface | 4 x 25.78Gb/s（NRZ） |
| Power consumption | 5.5W or less |
| Operating temperature | 0 to +70°C |
Going forward, NEC Corporation will continue to provide optical transceivers incorporating advanced technologies such as its single-fiber bi-directional technology for both domestic and international markets.
