A fiber-optic based communication system for facilitating communication between a client device, such as a hand-held computing device, and a host device, such as a desktop computer, a lap-top computer, a tablet device or any other computing device. The communication system includes a cable comprising electronic devices positioned at terminal ends of an optical fiber that provides for communication between the client device and the host device, and the communication occurs via electromagnetic coupling in the near field at at least one end of the cable.