Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for performing asymmetric pulse-shaping filtering. In some implementations, a receiver comprises a detector circuit operable to receive optical signal data from an optical link. The receiver comprises a filter circuit, coupled to the detector circuit, operable to (i) filter the optical signal data according to an asymmetric filtering scheme and (ii) output the filtered optical signal data, wherein the asymmetric filtering scheme comprises utilizing a shaping filter with first criteria, the first criteria including one or more values greater than one or more values of second criteria utilized by a shaping filter at a transmitter, the transmitter communicating with the receiver.