Price List for New High-Speed ​​Optical Connectors for Data Center Interconnection

High-speed optical connectors for data center interconnects range from under $2,000 for short-reach 400G modules to over $130,000 for long-haul coherent ZR+ modules, with third-party alternatives offering significant cost savings.

QSFP-DD and High-Speed Transceiver Pricing

• 400G SR8 Modules (Short-Reach, In-Rack/Cross-Row): Typically priced between $1,400 and $1,800 from reputable third-party vendors. These are the standard entry point for 400G adoption in modern data centers .
• DR4 and FR4 Modules (Medium-Reach, Data Center Rows/Campus Links): Prices are competitive in the third-party market, reflecting significant price compression over recent years .
• LR4, ZR, and ZR+ Modules (Long-Reach, DCI/Metro/Long-Haul): OEM LR4 modules can exceed $10,000, while coherent ZR+ modules may surpass $130,000. Third-party alternatives can reduce costs dramatically, making them attractive for wide-area network deployments .
• 100G/10G SFP and SFP+ Modules: Compatible third-party 10G SR SFP+ modules often sell for tens of dollars, whereas OEM long-reach LR/ER modules can cost hundreds of dollars .

High-Speed Connector and Cable Assemblies

• Amphenol High-Speed Connectors: Support multi-hundred Gbps systems, with up to 28Gbps per serial lane and 60 contacts per port. Designed for QSFP compatibility and next-generation data center applications .
• Siemon High-Speed Interconnects: Offer DAC, Active Copper (ACC/AEC), and Active Optical Cables (AOC) in speeds from 10G to 800G, supporting QSFP-DD, OSFP, SFP-DD, and other form factors. These assemblies are cost-effective, flexible, and interoperable with major equipment vendors .
• Molex High-Density Interconnects: Provide modular, plug-and-play solutions with multi-lane optical connectors, supporting 224G and paving the way for 448G. These systems are engineered for high-density, thermally constrained environments and future scalability .

Pricing Considerations

1. OEM vs Third-Party: OEM modules often carry a premium for warranty and guaranteed compatibility, while third-party modules can offer substantial savings without compromising performance for many applications .
2. Volume Discounts: Many vendors provide tiered pricing based on purchase volume, which can significantly reduce per-unit costs for large-scale deployments .
3. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Beyond initial purchase price, consider power consumption, reliability, and upgrade flexibility when evaluating high-speed optical connectors for DCI .
4. Application-Specific Selection: Short-reach modules are cost-effective for in-rack or cross-row connections, while long-reach coherent optics are necessary for inter-data center links but come at a higher cost .

Summary

For modern data center interconnects, short-reach 400G modules are the most economical, while long-haul coherent ZR+ modules represent the highest cost. High-speed connectors and cable assemblies from Amphenol, Siemon, and Molex provide scalable, modular, and future-ready solutions. Procurement decisions should balance performance requirements, budget constraints, and TCO considerations, with third-party options offering significant cost advantages in many scenarios.