An optical transceiver configured to operate in a host device includes an electrical interface communicatively coupled to the host device to interface electrically with the host device, wherein the optical transceiver is compliant with a Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) which is supported by the host device; optical transceiver components communicatively coupled to the electrical interface, wherein the optical transceiver components are configured to optically interface signals with a second optical transceiver to form an optical link; and electronic dispersion compensation circuitry communicatively coupled to the optical transceiver components and configured to electronically compensate for optical fiber chromatic and/or polarization mode dispersion associated with the optical link, separate and independent from the host device.