SFP Transceivers

All our SFP modules are fully compliant with Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) standards

This compliance ensures that all our optical modules work with any compatible networking equipment. 

MSA standards ensure that our SFP's are indistinguishable when compared to the corresponding Cisco, Juniper or HP SFP.  The MSA standards dictates not only the physical form of the SFP but also the optical and electrical characteristics and therefore defines a complete package for optical modules.

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The MSA framework has created an open standard for optical modules providing users with a wide choice from many providers that helps promote a competitive market.

Our SFP's ship, as standard, with a lifetime warranty ensuring their continued performance regardless of the end equipment they're located in.

What is the MSA standard? 

In the context of SFP's  the MSA, or Multi-source agreement, is an agreement between many manufacturers to produce optical modules that have the same functions that allow interoperability across different vendors. All aspects of the SFP including the mechanical, optical and electrical interface are specified by the Multi-source agreement.

Bi-Di - Bidirectional Single Fibre Optics

Traditionally fibre optic communication utilises 2 cores or strands of fibre between devices to achieve full duplex transmission. One core is exclusively used for the transmit direction, the other core for the receive direction. However advances in optical technology now mean that both the transmit and receive directions can reside on a single core providing full duplex bi-directional communication with just half the infrastructure.

Single fibre optics, commonly referred to as 'BiDi', can achieve better utilisation of your fibre infrastructure.

Benefits includes :-

• The potential to double capacity.
• The possibility to serve twice as many customers.
• Cost savings, only having to rollout and maintain half the amount of fibre.
• The ability to maximise investment in existing infrastructure. Migrating to single fibre optics on links that are nearing capacity or where infrastructure needs to be freed up.

Single fibre transmission is achieved via the innovative use of Wave Division Multiplexing. WDM assigns each direction its own wavelength and this enables each to co-exist on the same fibre.

Our Bi-Di's are available in both Multi and Singlemode options with transmission distances up to 40km.  For greater distances,  CWDM or DWDM will usually be more economical.  Data rates from 1Gbps to 25Gbps are possible and all come as standard with a lifetime warranty.

MSA Transceiver Chronology