an optical transceiver for converting and coupling an information - containing electrical signal with an optical including a housing having an electrical connector with a plurality of xfi electrical interfaces for coupling with an external electrical cable or information system device and for transmitting and / or receiving an information - containing electrical signal having a data rate ate least 10 gigabits per second on each interface , and a fiber optic connector adapted for coupling with an external optical fiber for transmitting and / or receiving an optical communications signal having a data rate at least 40 gigabits per second ; and at least one electro - optical subassembly in the housing for converting between and information - containing electrical signal and a modulated optical signal corresponding to the electrical signals .