Long-reach active optical cable

A optical assembly comprising:

• an optical cable;
• and
• an optical transceiver module comprising:
• a socket configured to receive the optical cable;
• an electro-optical transducer configured to generate an optical signal;
• an optical lantern comprising:
• an optical prism defining a first surface and a second surface, wherein the optical prism is configured to receive the optical signal via the first surface, disperse the optical signal into a plurality of modes of the optical signal, and output the plurality of modes via the second surface;
• and
• a mirror configured to reflect the optical signal from a first direction extending between the first surface and the mirror to a second direction extending between the mirror and the second surface;
• wherein the optical lantern is configured to direct at least one of the plurality of modes of the optical signal into the optical cable, and
• wherein the optical cable is configured to align with fewer than all of the plurality of modes of the optical signal.