SFP, LC and SC Connectors

SFP, LC and SC Connectors 1Glancing at modern network devices, people will see different built-in ports for different connections. For example, we use the USB interface in mobile phones to use RJ45 ports in copper wire switches. However what about SFP port? SFP ports are the built-in interfaces of various devices, including Gigabit switches, SFP switches, and network interface cards (NIC). Today we will talk about the LC SFP transceiver and SC SFP transceiver.

What Is SC Connector?

SC-ConnectorSC connector was developed in the mid-1980s. It is one of the first connectors to enter the market after the appearance of ceramic cores. With a spring-loaded ceramic ring on the push-pull connection end, SC is sometimes called “square connector”. Then it became popular with lower manufacturing costs. Because of its excellent performance, it occupies more than 10 years in the field of the optical fiber, and only ST competes with it. Today it is still the second most common connector for polarization maintaining applications. SC is very suitable for data communications and telecommunication applications, including point to point and passive optical networks.

What Is LC Connector?

LC-ConnectorThe LC connector is considered to be a modern substitute for the SC connector, and the introduction of the LC connector is not very smooth. As a push-pull connector, LC has latches instead of SC locking plates. Besides, it has smaller rings, which are called small connectors. The half of the footprint of the SC connector makes it popular in data communications and other high-density patch applications. All these are because of its small size and latch combination makes it an ideal choice for a densely populated rack/panel.

What Is SFP LC and What Is SFP SC?

LC SFP transceiver refers to 1000 BASE SFP transceiver with LC connector, including 1000 BASE-SX SFP, 1000 BASE-LX SFP transceiver module and so on. The SC SFP transceiver is a 1000BASE SFP transceiver with SC connectors.

SFP SC vs LC: How They Differ From Each Other

After having a basic understanding of SC and LC connectors, the next question is: what the difference between SC and LC? In general, the difference between LC and SC connectors lies in size, processing and connector history.

  • Size: LC is half of the size of SC. In fact, an SC adapter is exactly the same size as the duplex LC adapter. Therefore, LC is becoming more and more common in the central office. Because in the central office, the density of the packaging is an important cost factor.
  • Handling: Although there is a very innovative, real “push-pull LC” available, with the same handling power as SC. SC is a real “push-pull connector”, and LC is a “lock connector”.
  • The history of the connector: LC is “younger” than SC, while SC is spreading wider around the world than LC. LC, however, is catching up.

As we all know, the main difference between SFP LC and SFP SC transceiver lies in the connector. Among the different types of SFPs with LC connector, 1000BASE-SX SFP and 1000BASE-LX SFP transceivers are most commonly used. We take these two transceivers as an example. The 1000BASE-SX SFP LC transceiver is suitable for multimode fiber cables less than 550 meters. The LC SFP LX transceiver is suitable for 10km single-mode optical fiber cables and supports multimode fiber. The 1000BASE-SX LC SFP transceiver standard is designed to support low cost multimode optical fiber operation in horizontal and short length backbone applications. The LC SFP LX transceiver standard is designed to support a longer multimode building optical fiber backbone network and a single mode campus backbone network. The cost of the LC SFP LX transceiver exceeds that of the 1000BASE-SX SFP LC transceiver.


Current and future communication technologies require fast speed, high efficiency, and security. All interconnected large complex databases must be able to receive and transmit data without external interference. Both SC and LC SFP transceivers are designed to achieve this transmission. You can choose whether LC SFP transceiver or SC SFP transceiver according to your needs.

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Author: Far Li

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