JAPAN, June 29: Scientists at Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology have achieved a groundbreaking feat in fiber optic technology, setting a new world record by transmitting data at an unprecedented rate of 402 terabits per second through existing fiber optic infrastructure. This achievement, showcased at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference in San Diego, represents a significant leap in data transmission capabilities.

To achieve this record-breaking speed, the team explored previously untapped frequency ranges within the low-loss transmission window of standard fiber optic cables. These cables typically operate within a limited spectrum of frequencies optimized for minimal signal loss over long distances.

The project involved developing a system that covers the entire low-loss spectrum by employing various advanced signal amplification techniques. This includes utilizing doped fiber amplifiers, distributed Raman amplification, and innovative optical gain equalizers to access wavelength bands typically unused in current fiber optic networks. The system utilized an expansive 37 THz of bandwidth across 1,505 separate transmission channels spanning 31 miles of cable.

While this achievement highlights the immense potential of current fiber optic technology, practical applications for consumer internet at terabit-per-second speeds are still in development. The theoretical maximum data rate achieved was 402 Tb/s across multiple wavelength channels, with error correction enhancing the total data rate to 378 Tb/s—surpassing previous records by over 25% and expanding usable transmission bandwidth by 35%.

Looking forward, researchers anticipate that their approach will pave the way for advancements in "Beyond 5G" services, enabling enhanced data rates and prolonging the lifespan of existing fiber optic infrastructure by integrating new wavelength territories. Future-proofing networks could also be bolstered by combining these innovations with next-generation fiber types.

Implementing these speeds in practical applications would necessitate significant upgrades to amplifiers and transmission equipment at both ends of the fiber line. Nonetheless, the successful demonstration underscores the potential of fiber optics to support increasingly high-speed data transmission demands.

This achievement follows a previous breakthrough in fiber optic speeds, where multi-core multi-mode fiber was utilized to set a world record of 22.9 petabits per second. Unlike this latest advancement, which used single-mode fiber, the previous record focused on different fiber technology advancements.