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Intel's Maloney predicts fibre optics will be all-silicon in five years, at IDF

Intel demonstrated a proof-of-concept silicon-based optical modulator on chip at the Berlin Developer Forum today, predicting that the technology would be in full production in another five years. It will take over from current more expensive technologies, says Intel.

Sean Maloney, executive VP of Intel, said that the world would need the technology. "All the communications corporations are facing severe challenges," he said, "but never forget, the Internet grows; internet traffic doubles every year." To provide the bandwidth required by the Internet a decade away, cheaper technologies are needed; silicon can provide that, Intel believes.

Current technologies use expensive semiconductors like silicon-germanium, and indium phosphide, said Maloney; "it's fabulously expensive to get the optical signal off the fibre onto the silicon. But we now have a silicon modulator developed in our labs."

The modulator splits the incoming optical signal, and feeds one half into a phase-shift device. When a voltage is applied, the light slows down in the phase shifter, and comes out out-of-phase. So when the two signals are combined, you have an "optical shutter," said Maloney.

Already, he can demonstrate fast digitisation and transmission of an optical signal over silicon - he didn't, however, specify how fast, or how the silicon shutter's speed compares with more conventional InP technology.

"But if you look five years into the future," he concluded, "then it sends shivers up my spine to think what it is capable of."