Aloe Semiconductor Breaks Fiber Capacity Barrier with 850-Gb/s Optical Module

Semiconductor manufacturer Aloe Semiconductor has unveiled a novel optical communications module capable of transmitting 850 gigabits per second per fiber pair, showcasing a significant breakthrough in network infrastructure technology.

The demonstration at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference highlights a dual-polarization and bi-directional (DP-BiDi-PAM4) approach that effectively increases fiber capacity by a factor of four. By combining two density-improvement technologies, the company has addressed critical limitations in optical escape and cabling density.

The module utilizes a single-chip silicon-photonic integrated circuit containing both transmitter and receiver components. Using different wavelengths (1271 nm and 1311 nm) for bidirectional transmission, the technology enables more efficient data transfer in short-reach fiber links.

CEO Christopher Doerr emphasized the innovation's potential, suggesting future advancements could potentially reach 1.6 terabits per fiber pair by incorporating 200-Gbaud technology. This development represents a significant step toward more efficient and compact network infrastructure without requiring entirely new silicon technologies.

The breakthrough has potential implications for data centers, telecommunications, and other high-bandwidth communication environments, offering a path to dramatically increased data transmission capabilities without substantial infrastructure redesign.