5G High-speed Network and SFP+ Connectors

Author：Irene / time：2020-08-17 / The number of clicks：584

When it comes to broadband networks, the SFP+ connector plays an especially important role. By taking asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) modems with fixed-line copper cables as a stepping stone, telecom operators have increased their capacity and developed third- and fourth-generation cellular networks (known as broadband networks), in which SFP+ connectors serve as pioneers. Now, telecommunications operators are planning to widen the band of 4G broadband networks to speed up data transmission by a hundred times, so that a 2-hour movie can be downloaded in only about 3.6 seconds. The very fast and stable 5G network can support technologies that require a great deal of data exchange and transmission in a short time such as pilotless vehicles, VR live stream, etc.

Now, most modems used by dominant telecom operators in the market are assembled with SFP+ connectors, which are also widely used in various industries for data transmission. In fact, in addition to 4G network, faster 4G networks like LTE or LTE Advanced can be found in Korea, Hong Kong and other countries. These make users look forward to the kind of experience the next 5G high-speed network generation has to offer.

According to the statistical data from the National Communications Commission (NCC), data transmission per person in Taiwan is 16.85GB on average, ranking among the top countries in the world. Telecom operators predict that by around 2024, the use of data transmission facilities will be five times greater, especially in dense urban areas such as Taipei, Seoul and Singapore. If 4G networks are still used, network congestion will be inevitable. In order to meet future needs, telecom operators have been proactively planning the layout and research and development of 5G broadband network over the years.
 
Therefore, it goes without saying that SFP+ connectors need to evolve to the next generation in preparation for the 5G high-speed network era. 5G network features high speed, low retardancy and wide connectivity; of which, low retardancy and wide connectivity will have a significant impact on industrial development in the future. However, telecom operators have also mentioned that the number of base stations that 5G broadband network require are several times greater compared to 4G network. In order to increase network capacity, it is necessary to have a better variable frequency and more frequency spectrum, and increase reuse rate for size that is smaller. Therefore, there will be higher demand for SFP+ connectors, as well as their evolutionary versions such as QSFP14 and QSFP28 connectors. In the following articles, we will introduce the evolutionary series of SFP+ connectors and have a comparison and explanation of its efficiency.