An international team of researchers has set a new world record for data transmission speed through standard fiber-optic cables. The breakthrough, achieved by scientists from Aston University in the UK, the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) in Japan, and Nokia Bell Labs in the US, reached a rate of 402 terabits per second.
The experiment utilized existing commercial-grade optical fibers, the same type laid under cities and oceans globally, rather than specialized laboratory cables. This demonstrates the potential to vastly increase the capacity of current internet infrastructure without the prohibitive cost of replacing physical cables.
The record speed was made possible by accessing new wavelength bands, or "colors" of light, that are not typically used in today's optical fiber systems. The team developed new optical amplifiers and optical gain equalizers to enable transmission across these previously unused parts of the spectrum.
This advancement addresses the growing global demand for data, driven by technologies like artificial intelligence and 5G/6G networks. While not immediately available for consumer use, it charts a clear path for future upgrades to backbone networks that form the internet's core.
