A fiber ribbon includes a plurality of first segments of optical fibers that
extend
in a planar side-by-side arrangement having a first predetermined pitch. A fiber-fan-out
including a plurality of second segments of the optical fibers extends in a diverging
arrangement from the fiber ribbon. A fiber holder extends across the plurality
of second segments of the optical fibers for maintaining a plurality of terminal
portions of the second segments in a second predetermined pitch that is greater
than the first predetermined pitch so that the terminal portions can each be optically
coupled to a corresponding optical subassembly (OSA) of a plurality of OSAs arranged
in a linear array. An alternate embodiment uses a second fiber holder in place
of the fiber ribbon. The holders can be replaced with a common housing assembly
spanning all but the terminal portions of the optical fibers.