An apparatus configured to function as a pluggable single-wavelength bidirectional transceiver in a switching network. The apparatus includes: a 2×1 fusion coupler; an input/output optical fiber, a detector optical subassembly (OSA) fiber and a laser OSA fiber all connected to the 2×1 fusion coupler; and a transceiver that includes a transceiver electronic circuit printed wiring board (PWB) and laser and detector OSAs electrically coupled to the transceiver electronic circuit PWB. The laser OSA includes a laser that is situated to transmit light to the laser OSA fiber, while the detector OSA includes a photodetector that is situated to receive light from the detector OSA fiber. The transceiver electronic circuit PWB also includes a multiplicity of transceiver input/output metal contacts arranged at one pluggable end of the PWB.