SFP28 switches can connect to existing SFP and SFP+ network equipment through compatible ports, optics, and cabling, with many SFP28 ports supporting lower-speed SFP+ operation when the switch allows it. Check the switch and transceiver specifications, then configure the link for the supported speed, since older SFP equipment may require a dedicated SFP or SFP+ port.

SFP28 switches typically use 25G SFP28 optical transceivers with compatible single-mode or multimode fiber connections, depending on the link design and transceiver specification. Many models also include SFP or SFP+ ports for lower-speed fiber links, but the switch, transceiver, and cabling must share compatible speed, wavelength, connector, and fiber requirements.

Choose an SFP28 switch with Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports or copper access ports when you need to connect and power endpoints such as wireless access points, cameras, phones, or AV devices over existing twisted-pair cabling. Choose an SFP28-focused switch when most connections use fiber or high-speed uplinks between switches, servers, or other network infrastructure, and local PoE is not a primary requirement.

SFP28 switches support network expansion with multiple 25G SFP28 uplinks, optical fiber connectivity, and, on some models, additional Ethernet, multi-gigabit, or PoE ports for connected devices. Managed features such as Layer 3 routing, virtual chassis stacking with non-stop forwarding, and redundant or modular power supplies on select models help integrators build scalable, high-bandwidth, and resilient network designs.