800g Optical Module Parameters

800G optical modules support 800 Gbps data rates using PAM4 modulation, multiple lanes, and OSFP or QSFP-DD form factors for high-speed, high-density data center applications.

Data Rate and Modulation

800G optical modules are designed to handle data rates of 800 Gbps, effectively doubling the capacity of 400G modules . They achieve this using PAM4 (Pulse Amplitude Modulation 4-level), which transmits 2 bits per symbol, doubling bandwidth without increasing the symbol rate . Each module typically uses 8 lanes of 100G, with a modulation speed of 53 Gbaud per lane . Forward Error Correction (FEC) is required to maintain signal integrity, especially for long-distance transmission .

Form Factors

The main form factors for 800G modules are OSFP800 and QSFP-DD800, also referred to as OSFP and QSFP-DD . These form factors support high-density deployment in data centers and are compatible with multiple breakout modes:

• 1x800G: Single 800G port
• 2x400G: Two 400G ports
• 8x100G: Eight 100G ports

Transmission Media and Distance

800G modules are available in single-mode and multimode variants :

• Single-mode modules: Use single-mode fiber for long-distance transmission (hundreds of meters to over 10 km). Common standards include DR8, PSM8, 2xDR4, 2xFR4, 2xLR4, FR4, and FR8 . They often combine parallel channels with wavelength division multiplexing to optimize fiber usage and distance .
• Multimode modules: Use multimode fiber for short-distance, high-density interconnections (≤100 m), suitable for rack-to-rack or server-to-switch connections. Main standards include 800G SR8 .

Electrical and Optical Compliance

Modules comply with IEEE 802.3 800GE standards and the OSFP MSA for pluggable transceivers . They feature integrated heat sinks for thermal management and support high-speed electrical and optical interfaces. These modules are interoperable with lower-speed interfaces (400GE, 200GE, 100GE) to provide flexible deployment options .

Applications

800G optical modules are primarily used in:

• Hyperscale data centers for AI, HPC, and cloud services
• High-performance computing networks
• Enterprise core and distribution layers
• Service provider networks requiring high-density, high-speed interconnects

Summary of Key Parameters

• Data rate: 800 Gbps
• Modulation: PAM4, 8 lanes × 100G
• Form factors: OSFP800, QSFP-DD800
• Transmission distance: Single-mode (hundreds of meters to >10 km), Multimode (≤100 m)
• Breakout modes: 1x800G, 2x400G, 8x100G
• Standards compliance: IEEE 802.3, OSFP MSA, CMIS 5.3
• Applications: Data centers, AI/HPC networks, cloud services, enterprise and service provider networks These parameters make 800G optical modules a critical component for next-generation high-speed, high-density network infrastructure.