Japan breaks record for data transmission speed

Japanese researchers have achieved record data transfer speeds using a 1,864-mile long optical cable, reaching a blazing speed of 319 terabits per second.

It’s fast enough that you can transfer 10,000 high-definition movies at around 4 gigabytes each in a second, although it’s not available for the average household.

This type of technology is used in the back-end networks of broadband providers and then distributed among hundreds or thousands of customers.

This new record breaks the previous best speed for long-distance data transfer of 172 terabits per second, also set by a team from the Japanese National Institute of Information and Communications (NICT) in Tokyo.

The new system is compatible with the existing infrastructure, which means the networks could be easily upgraded because the cable is the same size, the team explained.

Researchers say this kind of speed will be needed for backbone infrastructure, as services place increasing demands on the internet infrastructure, especially thanks to the faster speeds of 5G networks, as well as the Internet of things and streaming.

To achieve the remarkable speed, they used a quad-core coupled fiber optic cable, carrying data over four fiber optic tubes rather than a single tube as is normal.

This reduces signal distortion over long distances, and the new technique is similar to the previous record system, but with one more core.

The data is then transmitted using “wavelength division multiplexing,” a technology that takes the data emitted by a laser and divides it into 552 channels.

This is then sent to the four fiber cores on the 1,864 mile fiber optic cable stretch, with a capable amplifier every 43.5 miles.

Amplifiers increase signal strength to minimize transmission loss over long distances.

Unlike previous generation amplifiers, these have been mixed with rare earth elements such as thulium and erbium as they work to excite ions and increase signal strength.

“By adding a small amount of rare earth ions to the base material of an optical fiber, amplification can be achieved by exciting these ions with shorter wavelength pump lasers and then amplifying the photons. signal by stimulated emission, ”they said.

“Such amplifiers have dramatically increased the transmission range of fiber optic communication and enabled the simultaneous amplification of many wavelength channels.”

Overall, each channel transmitted data at around 145 gigabits per second for each of the four cores, or around 580 gigabits per second for all cores combined.

With 552 transmission channels, this allowed them to reach the record speed of 319 terabits.

Despite all the extra sheathing for all four cores, it is the same diameter as a standard single-core fiber optic cable.

It is “attractive for the early adoption of fibers in broadband and long distance links”, according to the researchers.

Indeed, it is compatible with conventional wired infrastructures.

They are now striving to increase transmission capacity, extend range, and speed it up to meet potential demand as the world overtakes 5G.

“Beyond 5G, an explosive increase in new data services is expected and therefore it is crucial to demonstrate how new fibers can meet this demand,” they said.

“Therefore, it is hoped that this result will help in the realization of new communication systems capable of supporting new bandwidth-hungry services.”

The results were presented at the International Conference on Fiber Optic Communications.