An optical transceiver includes an optical IC coupled to a processor IC. For transmit, the optical IC can be understood as a transmitter IC including a laser device or array. For receive, the optical IC can be understood as a receiver IC including a photodetector/photodiode device or array. For a transmitter IC, the processor IC includes a driver for a laser of the transmitter IC. The driver includes an equalizer that applies high frequency gain to a signal transmitted with the laser device. For a receiver IC, the processor IC includes a front end circuit to interface with a photodetector of the receiver IC. The front end circuit includes an equalizer that applies high frequency gain to a signal received by the receiver IC. The driver can be configurable to receive a laser having either orientation: ground termination or supply termination.