An optical communications system and method at least doubles the data rate of the optical fiber link without requiring a redesign of the backplane ASIC. This is made possible in part through the incorporation of at least one gearbox integrated circuit (IC) is incorporated into the system that is compatible with the current ASIC design. The gearbox IC receives N lanes of electrical data signals from the ASIC, with each electrical data signal having a data rate of X Gbps, and outputs N/2 lanes of electrical data signals, with each electrical data signal having a data rate of 2X Gbps. The high-speed optical transceiver module receives the N/2 electrical data signals output from the gearbox IC and produces N/2 respective optical data signals having a data rate of 2X Gbps for transmission over the optical fiber link.