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With the explosive growth of compute-intensive services such as cloud computing, big data, and AI, data throughput within data centers continues to surge. This trend places higher demands on high-speed, low-latency interconnections between devices. In this context, AOC represented by the 100G QSFP28 form factor have become the preferred solution for short-reach, high-speed interconnects within modern data center racks, between switches and servers, due to their comprehensive advantages in transmission distance, electromagnetic interference immunity, and lightweight design.
1. Product Overview: 100G AOC Active Optical Cable
The C-LIGHT 100G AOC Active Optical Cable is a high-speed interconnect product based on the QSFP28 form factor. By integrating 850nm VCSEL array laser transmitters and PIN receivers within the optical transceivers at both ends, it converts electrical signals into optical signals for transmission, effectively overcoming the bandwidth limitations of traditional copper cables over longer distances. The communication protocol complies with IEEE 802.3bm/ba, the interface protocol complies with SFF-8636, and the packaging protocol complies with the QSFP28 MSA, ensuring seamless compatibility with mainstream network equipment.
Key product parameters are as follows:
Form Factor: QSFP28
Transmission Medium: Multimode Fiber (MMF)
Data Rate: 100G/112G (4×25.78Gbps)
Operating Wavelength: 850nm
Reach: 0.5m to 30m
Interface Type: OM3
Operating Temperature: Commercial (Com.)
The product supports various configurations including QSFP28 to QSFP28 direct attach, QSFP28 to 4×SFP28 breakout, and QSFP28 to 2×SFP28 breakout, meeting the flexible deployment requirements of different networking architectures.
2. Core Product Features
1. Ultra-Low Power Consumption Design
Maximum power consumption per end is kept below 2.5W. Compared to discrete solutions using traditional optical modules and separate fiber patch cords, the overall energy efficiency ratio is optimized by approximately 40%. In large-scale data center deployments, this low-power characteristic directly reduces equipment cooling costs and facility power consumption.
2. EMI Immunity and Lightweight Construction
Utilizing optical fiber as the transmission medium provides natural immunity to Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) compared to copper cables, ensuring stable signal integrity even in high-voltage equipment room environments. The cable weight is only a fraction of copper cables with equivalent specifications, significantly reducing cable management burden in racks and facilitating high-density cabling and future maintenance.
3. Plug-and-Play, Efficient Deployment
The product features a pre-terminated, integrated design. The QSFP28 connectors at both ends are precision-coupled at the factory, eliminating the need for users to purchase separate optical modules or patch cords. It offers true plug-and-play functionality, greatly saving installation and commissioning time. Additionally, the modules support hot-swapping for convenient online maintenance and replacement.
4. Broad Brand Compatibility
C-LIGHT 100G AOC products undergo rigorous compatibility testing and are compatible with over 100 mainstream switch brands, covering major vendors such as Cisco, Huawei, H3C, Juniper, and Arista. Each unit undergoes 100% testing before shipment to ensure stable operation upon deployment.
5. Three-Year Warranty and Customization Services
The product comes with a 3-year warranty and long-term repair services, along with complimentary professional technical support. Furthermore, C-LIGHT offers tailored services including custom lengths and compatibility coding upon request, ensuring customers receive original manufacturer after-sales support and effectively reducing long-term operational costs.
3. C-LIGHT Factory Strength Overview
Shenzhen C-LIGHT Network Communication Co., Ltd., established in 2011, is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the R&D and manufacturing of optical communication transceivers, with over 15 years of industry experience to date.
R&D Capabilities
The company boasts a professional engineering team of over 50 members, with core personnel possessing backgrounds from leading international telecommunications companies. To date, over 1,000 optical transceiver solutions have been developed and mass-produced, spanning eight major categories including 800G, 400G, 200G, 100G, 50G, 25G, and 10G. Several products represent industry-exclusive or leading-edge solutions. The R&D laboratory is equipped with comprehensive facilities for product design verification, reliability testing, and general inspection. Self-developed software/hardware test environments and tools further strengthen R&D quality and efficiency.
Manufacturing & Production
The company is located in the Liuxiandong Industrial Zone, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, with a facility area of 1,700 square meters and a daily production capacity exceeding 8,000 units. The production process is monitored by a comprehensive MES (Manufacturing Execution System), with core tuning and calibration steps automated and managed via data systems. In terms of supply chain, C-LIGHT maintains partnerships with suppliers offering quality equivalent to tier-one international vendors. Core materials are certified by recognized industry sources, ensuring product quality from the very beginning.
Quality Control
C-LIGHT's manufacturing division is certified under ISO9001 Quality Management System and ISO14001 Environmental Management System standards. Products comply with international certifications including FCC, CE, RoHS, REACH, TUV, and UL. Every module shipped undergoes 100% inspection through three quality control gates: initial test, final test, and outgoing quality control (OQC). Products are tested for eye diagram, optical power, wavelength, and bit error rate across various temperature conditions to ensure consistency and reliability.
Delivery & Service
Mainstream products are maintained in rolling stock inventory, with 90% of orders capable of shipping within 2-3 days. Delivery options include factory direct shipping and third-party delivery in Hong Kong. Customers span over 100 countries and regions across five continents. With an extensive product portfolio and a robust after-sales service system, C-LIGHT has established a strong reputation for reliability in the industry.
4. Typical Application Scenarios
C-LIGHT 100G AOC Active Optical Cables are primarily suited for the following environments:
Data Center Facilities: High-speed interconnects between switches, and connections between switches, servers, and storage devices.
High-Performance Computing (HPC) : Low-latency data exchange between nodes within compute clusters.
Storage Area Networks (SAN) : High-speed links between storage arrays and servers to ensure data throughput efficiency.
Enterprise Networks: 100G uplink connections between core and aggregation layer devices.
Deployment Recommendation: For short links under 5 meters, DAC (Direct Attach Copper) cables are preferred for cost savings. For medium distances between 5 and 30 meters, AOC active optical cables are recommended for optimal cost-performance ratio and transmission stability. For distances exceeding 30 meters, the combination of optical transceivers and fiber patch cords is the recommended approach.
The C-LIGHT 100G AOC Active Optical Cable, built on the QSFP28 form factor and 850nm VCSEL laser technology, delivers outstanding performance in power consumption, interference immunity, deployment convenience, and brand compatibility. It represents a high-value choice for 100G Ethernet short-reach interconnects in data centers. Backed by over 15 years of industry expertise, a 50+ member R&D team, comprehensive process quality control, and a reliable global delivery system, C-LIGHT, as a source manufacturer, provides customers with comprehensive services ranging from off-the-shelf standard products to customized development solutions—making it a trusted partner in the field of high-speed optical interconnects.
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