Researchers at Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) have shattered the global internet speed record by achieving a data transmission rate of 1.02 petabits per second over a distance of 1,802 kilometers, marking a revolutionary breakthrough in optical fiber technology that could reshape the future of global connectivity.
This groundbreaking speed is approximately 3.5 million times faster than the average United States fixed broadband connection of 289 megabits per second, demonstrating capabilities that would theoretically allow users to download the entire Netflix library—estimated at over 123 terabytes of content—in under one second, a feat that sounds more like science fiction than reality.
The key innovation behind this record lies in a specialized optical fiber cable equipped with 19 cores installed within a standard diameter of just 0.125 millimeters, with each core capable of carrying data independently, effectively transmitting 19 times more information than conventional single-core cables while maintaining minimal data loss over long distances comparable to traveling from New York to Chicago.
NICT previously achieved even faster speeds of 1.7 petabits per second, but only over a much shorter distance of 63 kilometers, making this new record particularly significant because it demonstrates sustained ultra-high-speed transmission over practical intercontinental distances that could support real-world infrastructure needs.
While this experimental technology won't reach consumers immediately, researchers emphasize its critical importance for supporting the explosive growth in data traffic expected from emerging communication services, artificial intelligence systems, cloud computing, and advanced information infrastructure that will define our increasingly connected digital future.
