In 2024, Japanese researchers from the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) set a new world record for data transmission speed, reaching an astounding 402 terabits per second (Tbps). This achievement far surpasses their previous record of 321 Tbps set just a year earlier.
For perspective, 402 Tbps equals 402 million megabits per second, which is thousands of times faster than standard home internet speeds that typically do not exceed 1,000 Mbps. This speed would allow the download of an 18 GB game in fractions of a second.
Researchers accomplished this feat by using standard fiber-optic cables combined with cutting-edge technologies, such as Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) and advanced signal amplification technology. These technologies enabled them to cover a wide range of wavelengths and achieve unprecedented data transmission rates over a 50-kilometer cable.
However, despite this success, such speeds are not yet available to regular consumers due to current equipment limitations. Nevertheless, this breakthrough promises to revolutionize future internet technologies, making revolutionary data transmission speeds possible.
