Pioneer shows 16-layer 400GB optical disc

Pioneer showed off its super multi-layer optical disc at the IT Month fair in Taipei. This new optical disc has 16 layers with 25GB storage capacity on each layer, resulting in a total capacity of 400GB. For comparison, a dual-layer Blu-ray disc offers a storage capacity of only 50GB.

Pioneer plans to commercialize super multi-layer read-only discs in the 2008-2010 timeframe, with rewritable discs slated for 2010-2012 and a 1TB disc in 2013.

The technology of the super multi-layer read-only disc is based on Blu-ray Disc (BD) with a breakthrough in material of reflective layers, according to Pioneer High Fidelity Taiwan. The specifications of the pick-up head (PUH) of the disc is the same as those for the PUH of blank BD discs, and therefore the Pioneer discs can be read on BD players, the company said.