The proposed optical fiber cable replacement for the baseline conventional cables is a great solution and significant improvement; if it works. There is substantial risk here. The design is based upon the analog properties of a VCSEL laser which is commercially produced as a digital product. The vendor does not specify the analog characteristics so changes in the design or fabrication process could render the part useless in this application with no recourse.
This upgrade is a challenge for the VERITAS project management. Some clear, objective, decision process will have to be developed, and honored, to determine when and how to adopt or abandon this solution in favor of the baseline conventional cable solution.