Overview

• Researchers at Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology achieved a transmission rate of 1.02 petabits per second, surpassing the previous 402 Tbps benchmark.
• The test looped data through a 19-core, 0.125 mm-diameter optical fiber over a total of 1,808 kilometers to validate long-haul stability.
• Using a conventional-sized multi-core cable allowed the team to multiply data channels without modifying current network infrastructure.
• NICT’s Photonic Network Laboratory partnered with Sumitomo Electric and European researchers to design and execute the experiment.
• The breakthrough remains in the research phase with no public deployment timeline, but its use of standard fiber paves the way for future network upgrades.