A team of researchers at Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has achieved a groundbreaking data transmission rate of 402 terabits per second (Tbps), which is approximately 1.6 million times faster than the average broadband speed in the United States.

To put this into perspective, the average internet speed in the US as of May 2024 was 248 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 34 Mbps for uploads. A terabit is equal to one million megabits.

This remarkable transmission rate of 402 Tbps means that it could transfer about 12,500 movies in one second, which is more than three times the entire Netflix library.

The researchers achieved this feat using commercially available optical fibers, rather than developing new ones. They employed different amplification techniques and utilized various wavelengths to send data across all available transmission bands. Optical fibers transmit data using light, and the researchers harnessed the full spectrum of wavelengths to carry multiple data streams simultaneously.

While utilizing multiple wavelengths maximizes fiber utilization, it can also lead to data interference and necessitates more complex amplification technologies. These technologies can be expensive and introduce challenges when transmitting data over long distances.

The experiment was conducted in a lab setting under ideal conditions, and significant resources were dedicated to ensuring quality. Therefore, practical real-world applications will require further research and development. Nevertheless, this breakthrough achievement represents a significant step towards dramatically increasing internet transmission speeds.