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SFP 10G LR lite is a 10 Gbe SFP+ optical transceiver module designed specifically for 1.4 km short distance transmission, also known as 10GBASE-LR Lite or 10GBASE-IR (Intermediate Reach) or LRM2. Different manufacturers may use different part number for the same model.
SFP 10G LR L is the “economical version” of the standard 10GBASE-LR (10km) module, while maintaining the 1310nm wavelength and single-mode fiber architecture, it compresses the cost to half or even lower than the standard SFP 10G LR SM module by reducing the transmission power and simplifying the optical components. It is very suitable for short to medium distance scenarios such as data center interconnection and park building connection, ranging from 300 meters to 1.4 km.
Definition explanation: “Lite” is not an official IEEE standard, but a common name agreed upon by the industry to distinguish short-range applications, usually mixed with “IR” (Intermediate Reach).
SFP-10G-LR-Lite Core Specification
Basic Technical Parameters
| Model | SFP-10G-LR L (Lite) |
| Package Type | SFP+ (SFF-8431) |
| Interface Type | Duplex LC |
| Fiber Type | SMF，OS2，9/125μm |
| Transmission Distance | 1.4km |
| Operating Wavelength | 1310nm |
| Data Rate | 10.3125 Gbps（support 10GBASE-LR/LW, CPRI） |
| Laser Type | FP Fabry-Perot Laser |
| Receiver Type | PIN Photodiode |
| Power Consumption | ≤ 1.0W（typical value） |
| Operating Temperature | Commercial：0~70°C;Industrial：-40~85°C |
| Hot-Pluggable | Support |
| Digital Diagnostics (DDM/DOM) | Support |
| Protocol Standards | IEEE 802.3ae 10GBASE-LR/LW、SFP+ MSA、SFF-8472、CPRI |
Transmission and Reception Parameters
Compared to SFP 10G LR standard fiber transceiver, the core difference of the SFP-10G-LR-lite lies in its lower optical power and simpler FP laser:
| Model | 10GBASE-LR Lite (1.4km) | 10GBASE-LR (10km) |
| Laser Type | FP (Fabry-Pérot) | DFB (Distributed Feedback) |
| Transmitted Optical Power | -6 ~ -1 dBm | -8.2 ~ +0.5 dBm |
| Receiver Sensitivity | ≤ -14.4 dBm | ≤ -14.4 dBm |
| Receiver Overload | +0.5 dBm | +0.5 dBm |
| Link Budget | ~8.4 dB | ~6.2-14.4 dB |
| Extinction Ratio | > 3.5 dB | > 3.5 dB |
Key Differences:
- FP Lasers vs. DFB Lasers: The LR-lite utilizes lower-cost FP lasers, which feature a broader spectral linewidth; while this results in more pronounced dispersion limitations during long-distance transmission, it remains entirely sufficient for distances within 1.4 km.
- Max. Transmit Power: The LR-lite has a maximum transmit power limit of -1 dBm (compared to +0.5 dBm for the standard LR version), making it better suited for short-distance applications by preventing receiver overload.
- Identical Receive Sensitivity: Both versions share the same receive sensitivity of -14.4 dBm, meaning the 1.4 km version is comparable to the 10 km version in terms of receiving capability.
Comparison with Other 10GB SFP Modules
LR-lite vs. Standard LR vs. SR
| Model | 10GBASE LRL SFP+ (1.4km) | SFP 10GBASE-LR (10km) | SFP 10GBASE-SR (300m) |
| Fiber type | Single mode (OS2) | Single mode (OS2) | Multimode (OM3/OM4) |
| Laser | FP (cheapest) | DFB | VCSEL |
| Transmit power | -6 ~ -1 dBm | -8.2 ~ +0.5 dBm | -7.3 ~ +2.4 dBm |
| Distance | 1.4 km | 10 km | 300m |
| Power consumption | < 1.0W | ~1.0W | < 1.0W |
| Relative cost | Min. (about $15-20) | Medium (about $20-30) | Low but requires multimode fiber |
Comparison between 10GBASE-LRL and 10GBASE-LRM (Multi Modal Long Range)
SFPP 10GE LRM is another 10G SFP Ethernet mid-range module that operates on multimode fiber, but 10GBASE LRM and 10GBASE LRL are positioned differently.
| Model | 10GBASE-LRL (1.4km) | 10GBASE-LRM (220m) |
| Fiber type | Single mode (OS2) | Multimode (OM2/OM3) |
| Distance | 1.4 km | 220m |
| Application | Single mode fiber short distance interconnection | Multi mode fiber recycling and upgrading |
Compatibility Tip: 10GBAS-LR SFP+ (long reach lite) module can replace some manufacturers’ SFP-10G-LRM2 models and is used for devices such as Cisco, Ubiquiti, MikroTik, etc.
Application scenarios of SFP 10G LR Lite
Mid to Short Range Interconnection within Data Centers (Core Applications)
In data center environments, the distance from servers to TOR switches is usually only a few meters to tens of meters, but cross rack and cross column interconnection may require 300 m to 1 km LR lite fills the gap between SR (300m) and standard LR (10km):
- Interconnection across cabinets in the same data center: distance between 300m-1.4km
- Interconnection between different floors of data centers: The vertical cabling length usually does not exceed 500m
- Leaf Spine architecture short distance link: cost sensitive medium to short distance connection
Interconnection of buildings in the park
In scenarios such as office parks, schools, hospitals, etc.:
- Network core interconnection between different buildings (usually at a distance of 500m-1.4km)
- Single mode fiber utilization: utilizing existing OS2 singlemode fiber infrastructure
- Cost optimization: 30% -50% cheaper than standard SFP 10GE LR modules
CPRI/eCPRI Forward Application
The LR lite module is compatible with the CPRI wireless protocol standard and is suitable for:
- 4G base station RRU-BBU connection (medium to short distance)
- 5G small base station forward transmission
- Feedline connection of distributed antenna system (DAS)
Industrial wide temperature deployment
The industrial grade version (-40~85℃) is suitable for:
- Outdoor cabinets and base stations
- Industrial automation network
- Railway and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
Selection points and precautions
- Distance confirmation: The 1.4km transmission distance of SFP 10G LR lite is based on the typical value of standard OS2 fiber (attenuation ≤ 0.4dB/km @ 1310nm). If old and high loss optical fibers are used, the actual distance may be shortened.
- Compatibility verification: SFP 10G LR lite modules require high compatibility with switch/router brands. At present, our 10GBASE LRL optical modules are compatible with the following brands: Cisco, Meraki, Ubiquiti, Mikrotik, Netgear, D-Link, TP-Link, Broadcom, Supermicro, QNAP, Synology, Zyxel, etc. Devices from brands such as HP, Arista, Juniper may require the use of their original factory coding modules. It is recommended to conduct compatibility testing before bulk order.
- Power consumption and heat dissipation: SFP 10G LR L power consumption ≤ 1.0W, comparable to SFP 10G LR standard modules, with low heat dissipation pressure, suitable for high-density deployment.
- Outdoor deployment requires the selection of industrial grade (I-temp) version:
Conclusion
SFP-10G-LR lite is an “economical” option in the 10G single-mode ecosystem – it precisely limits the transmission distance to 1.4 km by using lower cost FP lasers and reducing transmission power. While meeting the short distance interconnection needs of data centers and campus networks, it saves a lot of costs compared to standard 10GBASE LR LC modules, making it the best cost-effective choice in the distance range of 300 m to 1.4 km.
For specific selection suggestions, please contact us with detail information such as transmission distance, fiber type (single-mode/multi-mode), switch brand, installation environment (indoor/outdoor), etc.
