Although seldomly used today, GBIC's are still available for the 1. 25Gbps data rate, being mostly used in Ethernet switches, but also in special converters like our FIB1-1000TG GBIC to UTP fiber media converter. Its primary job is to convert electrical signals into optical signals (and vice versa), enabling data transmission over fiber optic. Disclaimer: Cisco makes the data in this tool available for informational purposes. Cisco does not represent, warrant, or guarantee that it is complete, accurate, or up to date. This information is subject to change without notice. Key characteristics include: Speed: 1 Gbps, 10 Gbps, 25 Gbps, or higher. The industry-standard Cisco Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) Gigabit Interface Converter (Figure 1) links your switches and routers to the network. The hot-swappable input/output device plugs into a Gigabit Ethernet port or slot. While both serve the essential purpose of connecting network devices (like switches and routers) to fiber optic or copper cabling, they are. The optical module serves as a crucial component in optical fiber communication systems, operating at the physical layer, which is the lowest layer in the OSI model.