The IEEE 802.3ae* 2002 (10 Gigabit Ethernet standard) is different in some respects from earlier Ethernet standards in that it will only function over optical fiber, and only operates in fullduplex mode (collision-detection protocols are unnecessary). Ethernet can now progress to 10 gigabits per second while retaining its critical Ethernet properties, such as the packet format, and the current capabilities are easily transferable to the new standard.