An Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) executive has confirmed that the hotly anticipated Light Peak interconnect technology is ready for implementation. Intel architecture group director David Perlmutter told IDG News Service that the technology's initial release will make use of copper instead of fiber optics; noting that copper-based Light Peak has attained data transfer speeds of 10Gbps. It was not clear, though, if he was referring to lab-only measurements, or if devices that will be released on the market will actually be capable of 10Gbps.

The news that Light Peak will debut using copper is not new; reports pertaining to that appeared as early as December. What is new is confirmation on how price economics influenced Intel's decision to go for copper as a medium. Equally telling is how there are, as yet, no major announcements by major vendors such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) or Sony in support of the new interconnect technology. 

Analyst Michael Jude from Frost & Sullivan summed up what probably happened on the decision to forgo fiber optics for now: "Optical-electric handoffs require some exotic electronics, and it may be that it is simply taking longer to fabricate the devices than they thought." If that analysis is accurate, then it makes perfect sense for Intel to push for traction with a cheaper Light Peak that actually gets implemented.

This makes sense since Light Peak could co-exist with existing technologies such as USB and networking protocols--which can run on top of it, according to Intel. For now, Perlmutter declined to comment on when he expects devices with Light Peak support will start arriving on the market--the actual shipments will depend on device makers.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at Computerworld
- check out this article at Tom's Hardware
- check out this article at Tech News World
- check out this article at PC Magazine

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