Reduced fiber count networks, devices, and related methods

A method for providing an optical fiber network, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of network devices comprising optical fibers for transmitting and receiving data;
• providing a plurality of network cables comprising optical fibers and connecting at least some of the network devices;
• and
• transmitting data using 100% of the optical fibers end-to-end across the plurality of network devices,
• wherein each of the plurality of network devices and cables have an 8 ct fiber basis,
• wherein the network is devoid of a converter or conversion module on each interconnect point between connected devices of the plurality of network devices, and
• wherein the network comprises a “4 by” parallel optics having four separate channels for transmitting (TX) and receiving (RX) data, and
• wherein transmitting data comprises transmitting data via sixteen separate channels.