Application of GBC Photonics 100G Optical Modules

The differences in the construction of single rate and dual rate modules are due to their different purpose.

The types of lasers used or different components implementing individual internal functions of the modules are primarily due to the fact that dual rate modules are supported two transmission speeds, which complicates the handling of signals and presents the designers with greater challenges in the area of signal integrity.‍

In addition, in the case of standards OTN and Ethernet we are dealing with other levels of tolerance of deviations of signal parameters. For example, the bit-rate tolerance parameter for OTN is +/- 20 ppm and for Ethernet +/- 100 ppm.

For these reasons, dual rate modules are more expensive than analog modules single rate. From the point of view of the user of such modules, the purchase of a dual rate version is justified in those cases when they are supposed to work in OTN transmission equipment or the planned investments in the infrastructure currently operating in the Ethernet standard will be directed towards the use of OTN transmission.

In solutions where they operate in the infrastructure Switches and Routers supporting only the Ethernet standard, it is preferable to use cheaper single rate modules.

The characteristics of the dual rate and single rate modules are briefly presented in the infographic below.

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