This approach utilizes standard electrical wet-mate connectors on either end. Marinized media converters are contained within the back shells of each electrical connector which convert the Ethernet signal from electrical to optical. The optical signal can then be transmitted over distances far exceeding standard subsea electrical Ethernet capabilities. In this way, optical Ethernet performance can be achieved with standard electrical Ethernet hardware extending the step out distance from 100 m to up to 10 km. Figure 5 shows the “Extended Ethernet Flying Lead” (E2FL).