Small Packaged Tunable Optical Transmitter

According to one embodiment, the present application includes a tunable optical transmitter configured in a small package. The tunable optical transmitter includes a housing with a volume formed by exterior walls. An electrical input interface is positioned at the first end of the housing and configured to receive an information-containing electrical signal. An optical output interface is positioned at the second end of the housing and configured to transmit an optical communication beam. A tunable semiconductor laser is positioned in the interior space and operable to emit a laser beam having a selectable wavelength. A semiconductor-based modulator is positioned in the interior space along an optical path of the laser beam and operatively coupled to the optical output interface. The semiconductor-based modulator is configured to impart modulation to the laser beam corresponding to an information-containing electrical signal received through the electrical input interface.