Electrical connector system

A wafer assembly comprising:

• a center frame defining a first side and a second side opposing the first side, wherein the first and second sides define a plurality of first electrical contact channels, and wherein at least one of the first and second sides defines a plurality of second electrical contact channels that is positioned on the center frame such that each second electrical contact channel is separated from another second electrical contact channel by a first electrical contact channel;
• a first array of electrical contacts positioned substantially within the first electrical contact channels of the first side;
• a second array of electrical contacts positioned substantially within the first electrical contact channels of the second side;
• and
• a third array of electrical contacts positioned substantially within the second electrical contact channels of at least one of the first and second sides.

A wafer assembly comprising:

• a center frame defining a mating end and a mounting end, the center frame comprising a conductive element, a plurality of insulated electrical contact channels, and a plurality of ground shield channels, wherein each ground shield channel is positioned on the center frame to be separated by another ground shield channel by at least one insulated electrical contact channel;
• a plurality of electrical contacts, each electrical contact positioned at least partially within an insulated electrical contact channel for a substantial length of the electrical contact, each electrical contact defining a mating end that extends beyond an end of the mating end of the center frame;
• and
• a plurality of ground shields, each ground shield positioned at least partially within a ground shield channel.

An electrical connector system for mounting a substrate, the system comprising:

• a plurality of wafer assemblies, each wafer assembly comprising:
• a center frame;
• a first array of electrical contacts positioned at a first side of the center frame;
• and
• a second array of electrical contacts positioned at a second side of the center frame that opposes the first side of the center frame, the second array of electrical contacts positioned adjacent to the first array of electrical contacts in the wafer assembly to form a plurality of electrical contact pairs;
• and
• a wafer housing that positioned the plurality of wafer assemblies such that the wafer assemblies are aligned and positioned adjacent to one another in the electrical connector system;
• wherein the wafer housing defines an air gap between a mating face of the wafer housing and the center frame such that the air gap surrounds at least a mating end of the plurality of electrical contact pairs.