Japan achieved an unprecedented milestone in internet speed, reaching a speed four million times faster than the average US broadband speed.
The world of high-speed internet has taken a significant leap forward, as researchers in Japan have broken the previous record for data transmission speed. The new record stands at an astonishing 125,000 gigabytes per second, a speed approximately 4 million times faster than the average internet speed in the United States.
This groundbreaking achievement was made possible by a new form of optical fiber, which is equivalent to 19 standard optical fibers in its data transmission capacity. Remarkably, the new cable squeezes 19 separate fibers into a diameter of five-thousandths of an inch, the same thickness as most existing single-fiber cables.
The team, led by researchers from the University of Tokyo, presented their findings on April 3 at the 48th Optical Fiber Communication Conference in San Francisco. Solving the challenges that led to this increase in signal strength enabled the data to travel a longer distance, covering the equivalent of 1,120 miles in this demonstration.
The researchers used a novel amplifier in their achievement, which could potentially lead to 'super lasers' that make the internet 10 times faster. The data ran through a transmission system 21 times during the demonstration, highlighting the potential for this technology to revolutionise long-haul transmission.
The new record surpasses the previous world record of 50,250 GB/s, set in 2024. The team plans to explore practical applications in the telecommunications sphere next, aiming to address the increasing global data demand.
The statement suggests that new communications infrastructure may be necessary due to the expected significant increase in data traffic volume worldwide in the near future. The advancements in optical communication systems, such as the one achieved by the Japanese team, are crucial for meeting these demands by providing higher capacity and faster communication systems for both terrestrial and space applications.
The latest advancements also include deep-space optical communication links, mode-locked semiconductor lasers, and photonic integrated circuits (PICs), which are being used to enhance data center performance and support the growing demands of AI training and large-scale data processing.
In the realm of space exploration, optical communication links are essential for transmitting higher volumes of data from space missions, such as those exploring deep space. The European Space Agency (ESA) has already achieved a historic milestone by establishing Europe's first deep-space optical communication link with a spacecraft in deep space, in collaboration with NASA's Psyche mission.
These advancements highlight the potential of optical technologies to meet increasing global data demands by providing higher capacity and faster communication systems for both terrestrial and space applications.
Data-and-cloud-computing advancements, such as the new optical fiber technology, rely heavily on technology innovation. The new optical fiber technology, demonstrated by the University of Tokyo team, showcases the potential of data-and-cloud-computing to leap forward, offering speeds up to 125,000 gigabytes per second, a staggering 4 million times faster than current average internet speeds.
