According to one embodiment, an Ethernet physical interface transceiver comprises a link interface configured to be segmented into one or more active ports. First circuitry is configured to transmit and receive data either at a relatively high data rate via a single active port of the link interface when the transceiver is configured in a first mode or at a relatively low data rate via at least two different active ports of the link interface when the transceiver is configured in a second mode. Second circuitry is configured to communicate with a media access controller either at a relatively high data rate when the transceiver is configured in the first mode or at a relatively low data rate when the transceiver is configured in the second mode. Clock circuitry is configured to independently synchronize operation of each active port of the link interface.