Spain and Portugal are increasingly operating as a single digital hub in southern Europe. Growth is driven by three main factors: data center expansion, 5G infrastructure, and enterprise network modernization. Here are the five most in-demand references.

1. 100G QSFP28 LR4 – The Standard for Backbone and Data Centers

Form Factor: QSFP28 | Distance: 10 km | Fiber: SMF | Wavelength: 1310 nm

Why it’s at the top: Spain and Portugal have become major digital hubs in southern Europe. The arrival of the EllaLink submarine cable (directly connecting Lisbon and Madrid to São Paulo in Brazil) and significant investments by EXA Infrastructure (€39 million) in the region have created strong demand for high-capacity links.

Main applications:

• Data Center Interconnect (DCI): Operators like RENTELECOM use 100G to connect data centers in Madrid, Lisbon, and Sines.
• Telecom and utility backbones: Companies like REN (Portugal’s electrical and gas grid operator) use 100G DWDM/OTN modules for critical infrastructure.

Market context: The European SFP transceiver market (including QSFP28) is valued at $10.4 billion USD in 2024, with sustained growth in the Iberian Peninsula.

2. 10G SFP+ LR / SR – The King of Enterprise and Government Networks

Form Factor: SFP+ | Distance: 10 km (LR) / 300 m (SR) | Fiber: SMF (LR) / MMF (SR)

Why it’s in demand: The Spanish and Portuguese business landscape (banks, government agencies, universities) still largely runs on 10G. Spain has one of the highest fiber optic penetration rates in Europe, driving replacement and expansion of existing networks.

Main applications:

• University and government campus networks: Inter-building links primarily use SFP+ LR (10 km).
• 4G/5G backhaul: In suburban areas where fiber aggregation runs at 10G.
• IT infrastructure upgrades: In SMEs and large enterprises.

Volume context: The global 10G SFP+ market remains stable with low single-digit growth, but unit volumes in southern Europe remain very high.

3. 25G SFP28 – The Standard for 5G Fronthaul

Form Factor: SFP28 | Distance: 100 m (SR) / 10 km (LR) | Fiber: MMF (SR) / SMF (LR)

Why it’s in demand: 5G deployment in Spain and Portugal is accelerating. Operators (Telefónica, Vodafone Spain, NOS, MEO) use 25G as the standard for fronthaul links between base stations (BBU/CU) and remote radio units (RRU/AAU). CPRI option 10 and eCPRI at 25G are now the norm.

Main applications:

• 5G radio access networks (fronthaul): Up to 10 km connecting antennas to aggregation switches.
• Top-of-rack (ToR) in regional data centers: For servers migrating from 10G to 25G.

4. 1G SFP LX / BiDi – Essential for Critical Infrastructure

Form Factor: SFP | Distance: 10-20 km (LX) / 10-40 km (BiDi) | Fiber: SMF

Why it’s still in demand: 1G remains widely deployed in critical and industrial infrastructure. Surveillance, access control, sensor networks, and industrial IoT applications don’t need more than 1 Gbps. BiDi (single-fiber) is particularly valued for conserving existing fiber.

Main applications:

• IP surveillance (urban CCTV): Highly developed in Spain.
• Industrial and SCADA networks: In energy and water utilities.
• Operator aggregation networks: Aggregating slower links.

5. 32G Fibre Channel SFP28 – For Financial Data Centers

Form Factor: SFP28 | Distance: 100 m (SR) / 10 km (LR) | Fiber: MMF (SR) / SMF (LR) | Protocol: 32G Fibre Channel

Why it’s in demand: Madrid is a major financial hub in Europe. Banks and financial services companies based there use Fibre Channel storage area networks (SANs). 32G FC is the current standard for disk arrays and backup libraries. SFP28 FC is the reference for this niche but highly solvent market.

Main applications:

• SAN for banking and financial sectors: Connecting servers to storage arrays.
• Backups and financial data centers: Concentrated in the Madrid region.

Summary Table for Iberian Peninsula

Sources

Olisipo – EllaLink (Sines-Lisbon)
https://ella.link/ongoing-projects/?amp=1

Exa Infrastructure – €39M expansion
https://www.sdxcentral.com/news/exa-infrastructure-makes-series-of-partnerships-to-expand-network-globally/

Lyntia DC Connect (100 data centers Iberia)
https://www.telecomrevieweurope.com/articles/reports-and-coverage/lyntia-unveils-dc-connect-across-100-iberian-data-centers/

Lyntia DC Connect (Mobile Europe)
https://www.mobileeurope.co.uk/lyntia-launches-dc-connect-across-iberia/

Spain Optical Transceiver Market – Straits Research
https://straitsresearch.com/vertex/insights/optical-transceiver-market/spain/toc

SFP Fiber Optic Transceiver – Market Report Analytics
https://www.marketreportanalytics.com/reports/sfp-fiber-optic-transceiver-390497

SFP Optical Transceiver – Data Insights Market
https://www.datainsightsmarket.com/reports/sfp-optical-transceiver-460405

Spain Optical Networking – 6Wresearch
https://www.6wresearch.com/industry-report/spain-optical-networking-and-communications-market

Olisipo video – EllaLink
https://ella.link/videos/page/2/#qodef-page-content

An essential supplier for data centers, enterprise IT networks, and telecom operators, GigOptics offers a complete range of optical transceivers from 1G to 400G — at competitive prices and with responsive local support.

Who is GigOptics?

GigOptics is an American company specializing in optical transceivers. US-owned and operated, it stands out for its commitment to quality, unbeatable prices, and exceptional customer service.

Its products comply with MSA (Multi-Source Agreement) standards, are rigorously tested, and can be factory-configured to ensure full compatibility with equipment from major vendors: Cisco, Juniper, Huawei, Dell, HP, and many others — with guaranteed performance equivalent to OEM modules.

Markets served

GigOptics serves three major customer segments:

• Data Centers — Transceivers from 1G to 400G to meet growing bandwidth demands while controlling port density and power consumption.
• Enterprise IT Networks — Reliable modules for switches, routers, servers, and host bus adapters, at the heart of critical network infrastructures.
• Telecom Networks — A comprehensive range covering various speeds and distances, giving operators the flexibility needed to evolve their infrastructure.

2026 Product Catalog: overview of the range

The January 2026 catalog covers 10 product families, from entry-level transceivers to high-speed active cables.

SFP 1G Transceivers

Typical applications: 1000Base Ethernet, 1G Fiber Channel, switch-to-switch interconnects. The foundation of any network infrastructure. GigOptics offers several variants based on reach and fiber type:

SFP+ 10G Transceivers

A highly sought-after range, available in SR, LR, ER, ZR, BIDI, and DWDM variants (up to 100 km). Compatible with 10GBase and Fiber Channel architectures.

XFP 10G Transceivers

XFP form factor for 10G applications over single-mode fiber, with 100GHz DWDM support for long-distance deployments and high-density Fiber Channel links.

SFP28 25G Transceivers

Stepping up to 25G in a compact form factor. Available in SR (100 m) and LR (10 km), as well as DWDM and Fiber Channel (32G FC) variants.

QSFP+ 40G Transceivers

Ideal for aggregated links. Multiple reach options:

• SR4 (100 m, MMF) — intra-datacenter links
• LR4 (10 km, SMF) — campus and MAN
• ER4 (40 km) and ZR4 (80 km) — long distance
• PLRL4 (4×10G, 2 km and 10 km) — breakout to 10G ports
• SR BD (150 m) and SWDM4 (300 m) — flexible topologies

QSFP28 100G Transceivers

One of the most comprehensive product families in the catalog, designed for modern datacenters and telecom backbones:

• SR4 (100 m, MMF) — intra-rack and inter-rack links
• LR4 (10 km, SMF) — room and building interconnects
• ER4 (40 km) — metropolitan
• ZR4 (80 km) — long distance
• BIDI (10 / 20 / 30 / 40 km) — single-lambda bidirectional fibers
• DWDM (80 km) — wavelength division multiplexing
• Compatible with Infiniband QDR/DDR/SDR and 100G Datacom applications

QSFP56 200G Transceivers

For rapidly expanding architectures:

• SR4 (100 m, 850 nm, MMF) — short-reach datacenter links
• FR4 (2 km, SMF) — room interconnects
• LR4 (10 km, SMF) — campus links

Also available in AOC breakout 200G → 4×50G configuration.

QSFPDD 400G Transceivers

The top of the range for hyperscale datacenters and next-generation networks:

• SR8 (100 m, 850 nm, MMF)
• FR4 (2 km, SMF)
• LR4 (10 km, SMF)

Compatible with AOC breakout 400G → 4×100G QSFP56 configurations, ideal for maximizing port density.

AOC Cables (Active Optical Cables)

Available from 10G to 400G in SFP+, QSFP+, QSFP28, QSFP56, and QSFPDD form factors. Standard lengths (1 m, 3 m, 5 m) or custom. Breakout versions available for port fanout.

DAC Cables (Direct Attach Copper)

High-density passive twinaxial copper cables, available in SFP+ 10G, QSFP+ 40G, and QSFP28 100G. A cost-effective solution for short intra-rack distances.

Complementary products

GigOptics also offers:

• Fiber optic patch cords
• Optical splitters
• Media converters

Why choose GigOptics?

Extended range from 1G to 400G, a solution for every need

MSA compliance — guaranteed interoperability with existing network ecosystems

Vendor compatibility — factory configuration for Cisco, Juniper, Huawei, Dell, HP, and others

Value for money — OEM-equivalent performance at a fraction of the cost

Local American support — expert team available quickly

Get a quote for GigOptics products

Interested in GigOptics transceivers? Contact us via the form below and our team at ARTRONIK will get back to you with a competitive price tailored to your needs — whether you’re looking for a single module or a large volume order.