The MC220L is a media converter designed to convert 1000BASE-SX/LX/LH fiber media to 1000Base-T copper media, and vice versa. The MC220L is built according to the 1000Base-T standard (IEEE802.3ab) and the 1000Base-SX/LX/LH standard (IEEE802.3z), and is intended for use with multimode/singlemode fiber optic cables and SC/LC connectors. It operates at 850 nm for both sending and receiving data when using multimode fiber, and at 1310 nm for both sending and receiving data when using singlemode fiber.

Additional features of the module include the ability to use the device as a standalone unit (no housing required) or with TP-LINK's 19-inch system chassis, Auto-MDI/MDIX for the transmit port, and a status LED on the front. The MC220L can transmit in Fibre-Optic-Long-Distance mode using multimode fiber cable up to a distance of 550 m and using singlemode fiber cable up to a distance of 10 km.