An actuator-based latching/delatching mechanism in combination with an optical module includes a housing having a front face with an opening and an optical transceiver designed to be nestingly engaged in the opening. A front surface of the transceiver is flush with the face of the housing in a fully nestingly engaged orientation. A pivot arm is pivotally mounted adjacent a rear end of the housing for pivotal movement between a latching orientation in which the transceiver is fully nestingly engaged in the housing and a delatching orientation in which a force pivots the arm against the transceiver to move the transceiver out of the engaged orientation. An actuator, with an end accessible exterior of the housing, is mounted in the housing for movements from latching to delatching orientations in response to a force applied to the end of the actuator.