800G OSFP SR8 850nm 100m Optical Transceiver

The C-LIGHT 800G OSFP SR8 850nm 100m Optical Transceiver is a high-speed multimode optical module designed for next-generation data centers, InfiniBand networks, AI clusters, and high-performance computing applications. It provides an aggregate data rate of 800Gbps using 8 × 100G PAM4 optical lanes and supports transmission distances up to 100m over OM4 multimode fiber.

1. What Is the 800G OSFP SR8 Optical Transceiver?

The 800G OSFP SR8 is an 800Gbps short-reach optical transceiver based on the OSFP form factor. It uses eight 100G optical lanes with PAM4 modulation to deliver an aggregate bandwidth of 800Gbps.

The module is designed for high-density networking environments where short-distance, high-bandwidth optical connectivity is required. It supports an optical wavelength around 850nm and uses VCSEL transmitter arrays with PIN photodetector arrays.

2. 800G OSFP SR8 Key Specifications

The product datasheet specifies a maximum link length of 60m on OM3 and 100m on OM4 multimode fiber. It also supports an operating temperature range of 0°C to 70°C with power consumption below 16W. 

3. 800G Bandwidth with 8 × 100G PAM4

The optical architecture uses eight independent 100G lanes. Each lane operates at 53.125 GBd using PAM4 modulation, allowing the transceiver to achieve an aggregate 800Gbps transmission rate.

This lane architecture makes the 800G OSFP SR8 suitable for high-bandwidth switch-to-switch and switch-to-server connections in modern AI and HPC networks.

4. 850nm VCSEL Technology for Short-Reach Links

The 800G OSFP SR8 uses VCSEL arrays for optical transmission and PIN photodetector arrays for optical reception. The 850nm multimode optical architecture is optimized for short-distance data center links.

VCSEL-based 850nm technology provides a practical solution for high-density short-reach connections where low-cost multimode fiber infrastructure and compact optical transceivers are preferred.

5. 100m Transmission over OM4 Multimode Fiber

Distance is one of the most important factors when selecting an 800G SR8 optical transceiver. The C-LIGHT 800G OSFP SR8 supports up to 60m over OM3 fiber and up to 100m over OM4 fiber.

This reach makes the transceiver particularly suitable for in-rack, rack-to-rack, and short-distance switch interconnects within data centers.

6. MPO-16 APC Optical Interface

The 800G OSFP SR8 uses an MPO-16 APC optical connector. The 16-fiber interface matches the eight-lane optical architecture and enables high-density parallel optical transmission.

The datasheet also indicates that dual MPO-12 APC and MPO-16 APC connector options are available within the product family, providing flexibility for different network architectures. 

7. 800G OSFP SR8 for InfiniBand Networks

The InfiniBand version of the 800G OSFP SR8 is designed for high-performance computing and AI networking environments where high bandwidth and low-latency connectivity are essential.

It can be deployed in GPU clusters, AI server interconnects, HPC systems, and high-performance switch fabrics that require short-reach 800G optical connectivity.

8. IEEE and OSFP MSA Compliance

The module complies with the OSFP Module Specification Rev. 5.0 and CMIS 5.2. The datasheet also lists compliance with IEEE 802.3db and IEEE 802.3ck, supporting standardized high-speed optical and electrical interfaces. 

This standards-based architecture improves interoperability with compatible networking platforms and simplifies deployment in large-scale data center environments.

9. Optical Performance of the 800G SR8

Each optical lane operates at 53.125 GBd using PAM4 modulation. The transmitter optical specifications include an average launch power range of -1dBm to 4dBm per lane, while the maximum TDECQ and TECQ are specified at 4.4dB.

On the receiver side, the module supports an average received power range from -6.4dBm to 4dBm per lane, with a stressed receiver sensitivity of -2dBm. 

10. Power Consumption and Thermal Characteristics

High-speed 800G optical modules must balance bandwidth with thermal performance. The C-LIGHT 800G OSFP SR8 has a maximum power consumption below 16W over the specified 0°C to 70°C operating temperature range.

The OSFP package also provides a larger module envelope than smaller pluggable formats, making it suitable for high-performance switches and dense AI networking platforms where thermal management is an important consideration.

11. Applications of 800G OSFP SR8

The 800G OSFP SR8 is designed for short-reach 800G optical connectivity in high-performance networking environments.

• AI data center networks

• GPU cluster interconnects

• InfiniBand NDR networks

• High-performance computing systems

• Data center switch-to-switch links

• High-density server and storage networks

• Cloud data center infrastructure

12. 800G OSFP SR8 vs. Other 800G Optical Transceivers

The 800G SR8 is primarily selected for short-distance multimode fiber applications, while DR8 and 2FR4 solutions are better suited to longer-reach single-mode fiber connections. C-LIGHT's 800G OSFP product family covers SR8, DR8, 2FR4 and other configurations for different deployment distances. 

13. Why Choose C-LIGHT 800G OSFP SR8?

C-LIGHT 800G OSFP SR8 provides an 800Gbps optical interface in a compact, high-density OSFP package. Its 8 × 100G PAM4 architecture, 850nm VCSEL technology, MPO-16 APC connector, and support for up to 100m over OM4 make it well suited for short-reach AI and data center networking.

The product is also available as an InfiniBand version, making it suitable for GPU clusters and HPC environments that require high-bandwidth optical connectivity. 

14. Ordering Information

The ordering information in the datasheet identifies CL800GOSFPSR8 as an 800G, 100m, MMF, VCSEL 850nm/PIN optical transceiver with an MPO-16 interface. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7} 

15. Conclusion

The 800G OSFP SR8 850nm 100m Optical Transceiver is a high-density short-reach solution for next-generation data centers, AI clusters, InfiniBand networks, and HPC applications. With 8 × 100G PAM4 lanes, 800Gbps aggregate bandwidth, VCSEL-based 850nm optics, and support for up to 100m over OM4 fiber, it provides an efficient optical interconnect solution for high-performance network architectures.

16. 800G OSFP SR8 Q&A