Cisco SFP-50G-BXU-I | 50GBASE-BR10 BiDi Transceiver, 10km, LC, Industrial

Q: What is the difference between SFP-50G-BXU-I and SFP-50G-BXD-I?
A: These modules are paired BiDi transceivers that operate on opposite wavelengths. The SFP-50G-BXU-I (Upstream) transmits at 1270nm and receives at 1330nm, while the SFP-50G-BXD-I (Downstream) transmits at 1330nm and receives at 1270nm. They must always be deployed as a matched pair on opposite ends of a single fiber strand.

Q: What FEC is required for this module?
A: For 50G operation, the module requires KP1-FEC (also known as RS-FEC 544,514) enabled on the host switch ports. For 25G operation, it requires KR1-FEC (also known as BASE-R FEC or FC-FEC). These FEC settings ensure reliable data transmission at full reach.

Q: Can this module operate in standard temperature switches?
A: Yes, the SFP-50G-BXU-I is rated for industrial temperature range (-40°C to 85°C) but is fully compatible with standard temperature equipment. The industrial rating makes it suitable for harsh environments, outdoor deployments, or applications requiring extended temperature tolerance.

Q: What applications benefit from BiDi technology?
A: BiDi (bidirectional) transceivers use wavelength division multiplexing to transmit and receive on a single fiber strand, reducing fiber infrastructure costs by 50%. This is ideal for long-haul links, metro networks, data center interconnects, and telecom applications where fiber resources are limited or expensive to deploy.

Q: Does this module support CPRI for telecom applications?
A: Yes, the SFP-50G-BXU-I supports CPRI datarate option 10, making it suitable for fronthaul and backhaul connectivity in 5G and LTE mobile networks. This enables high-capacity radio access network deployments over long distances using single-fiber infrastructure.