Optical transceivers use fiber media to transmit data over longer distances, while copper-based transceivers use direct attach cables or twisted pair connections for shorter links. The choice between optical and copper depends on distance requirements . To keep ahead of what customers need, Marvell continually seeks to boost capacity, speed, and performance of the digital signal processors (DSPs), transimpedance amplifiers or TIAs, drivers, firmware and other components inside interconnects. It's an interdisciplinary endeavor involving expertise. Copper is simple and cheap and has been the mainstay of interconnect solutions for over 100 years, but it can't handle the bandwidth of high-performance systems any longer. The challenges of transmitting a high-speed signal (10's Gbps) over any useful distance, through connectors and bulkheads are. Optical and copper interconnection technologies represent two distinct approaches to data transmission, each with its own advantages and limitations. For example, a typical 10 Gbps copper Ethernet link (such as Cat 6A) over 100 meters can consume approximately 5 to 8+.
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