Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) says it has successfully created a prototype optical interconnect that signals at 50 Gbps, or 50 billion bits of data per second. And this is just the beginning; company officials are already talking about reaching speeds of 400 Gbps, with the eventual goal of hitting a terabit per second.

Intel CTO Justin Rattner elaborated on the significance of the optical interconnect technology, when he said, "Photonics gives us the ability to move vast amounts of data across the room or across the globe at extremely high speed." Rattner said overcoming the physical limitations of copper wire is now approaching. Using copper makes it difficult to move electrons over long distances, at high speeds.

At the moment, the prototype is proof that Intel can make the technology work. In order for it to go mass market though, the technology has to be further refined and costs need to lower. For now, Intel hopes to have this technology ready by the middle of the decade.

For more on this story:
- see the press release
- check out this article at eWeek
- check out this article at PC Mag 

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