Embodiments disclosed herein include electronic packages with improved differential signaling architectures. In an embodiment, the electronic package comprises a package substrate, where the package substrate comprises alternating metal layers and dielectric layers. In an embodiment, a first trace is embedded in the package substrate, where the first trace has a first thickness that extends from a first metal layer to a second metal layer. In an embodiment, the electronic package further comprises a first ground plane laterally adjacent to a first side of the first trace, and a second ground plane laterally adjacent to a second side of the first trace.