US-based chip-maker Intel will use silicon photonics to boost transfer speeds in data centres across the world, pcadvisor.co.uk reports.
The company is using the technology in its new MXC cables, which, in theory, are capable of transferring data at speeds as high as 1.6Tbps (terabytes per second). The optical cables can accommodate up to 64 fibres and stretch as far as 300 metres between data centre hardware.
According to Intel’s head of silicon photonics, Mario Paniccia, the technology could also be scaled down to be used in the consumer market.
While the firm’s consumer-focused Thunderbolt 2 connectors offer speeds of up to 20Gbps, which is much faster than USB 3.0, researchers are currently working on a follow up. It is thought that the next iteration could have transfer speeds of 50Gbps, although Mr Paniccia says that this wouldn’t be absolutely necessary just yet.
He was quoted by techworld.com as saying: “When the need is there for higher speed – 25Gbps or above – we will aggressively go after that market.”
Initially, Intel said that it would look to offer 50Gbps cables by 2015, although it now says that the introduction could be “years away” and will depend on partnerships with other companies.
The first Thunderbolt cables were used with Apple Mac machines in 2011 and were copper-based. While optical versions have been introduced since, the original cables are still dominant.
