Abstract: Client-side protection systems and methods are implemented by a network element using a fast electrical squelch with a first optical transceiver and a second optical transceiver. A client-side protection method includes detecting a protection switching event affecting one or more lanes associated with the first optical transceiver; causing a fast electrical squelch to the affected one or more lanes of the first optical transceiver to provide a Loss of Signal (LOS) thereto; and subsequent to the LOS to the first electrical transceiver, causing a fast electrical squelch to corresponding one or more lanes of the second optical transceiver to enable the corresponding one or more lanes thereon.