Abstract: A backplane for a communication system having a back-side and an opposite front-side both having traces capable of conducting electrical and/or optical signals that comprises a plurality of layers with traces capable of conducting electrical signals and vias for passing optical signals between said back-side and said opposite front-side. The back side is further provided with optical fibers capable of transporting the optical signals and optical elements affixed on an exit of one via of the plurality of vias in the back-side, wherein each optical element is capable of focusing optical signals coming through the via collimating optical signals from an optical fiber into and through the via to the front side. Systems based on the backplane are provided.