Low-cost, compact, gigabit transceivers for data communication

Gigabit fiber-optic data links for use in box-to-box computer interconnects are becoming increasingly common due primarily to the high data rate-distance capability, better EMC/EMI performance and smaller size of the optical fiber technology. However, these advantages alone do not necessarily justify the use of fiber optic interconnects. Fiber optic interconnects must also be comparable in cost to copper ones especially as the distance between boxes shrinks. In this paper, industry trends in technology development that will further cost reduce gigabit fiber optic data communications transceivers will be discussed.