Optical interconnect with tandem ferrule

A unitary optical ferrule comprising:

• a plurality of rows comprising at least first and second rows of respective substantially parallel first and second receiving elements extending along a same length direction and arranged along an orthogonal same width direction for receiving and securing respective first and second optical fibers, the second row of the second receiving elements offset relative to the first row of the first receiving elements along a thickness direction orthogonal to the length and width directions;
• first and second input members offset relative to each other along the length direction;
• first and second light redirecting members;
• and
• an exit window, such that when the first and second optical fibers are received by and secured in the respective first and second receiving elements, first and second central light rays emitted by the respective first and second optical fibers enter the unitary optical ferrule through the respective first and second input members, the entered first and second central light rays are redirected by the respective first and second light redirecting members from first directions to different second directions, and the redirected first and second central light rays exit the unitary optical ferrule through the exit window.