TOKYO: Japan has smashed the world record for internet speed, achieving a staggering 1.02 petabits per second in a groundbreaking laboratory experiment.
The test was carried out by researchers at the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), who used a 19-core optical fiber spanning nearly 1,800 kilometers to transmit data at speeds never seen before.
To put this into perspective: this speed could theoretically download the entire Netflix library in under a second or stream millions of 8K ultra-high-definition videos at the same time.
The record-breaking experiment clocked speeds millions of times faster than the global average — far surpassing current broadband connections available to everyday users.
However, the researchers clarified that the feat was achieved under controlled lab conditions, meaning it does not yet reflect the speeds consumers can expect at home anytime soon.
What sets this milestone apart is the use of advanced yet standard-compatible optical fiber technology, which makes the innovation promising for future real-world applications. Experts say such ultra-fast speeds could be vital for the next generation of cloud computing, AI data centers, and international data networks.
The breakthrough underlines Japan’s lead in cutting-edge optical communication research and could shape the backbone of future 6G technology, submarine cables, and ultra-high-capacity global data sharing.
While practical roll-out is still years away, this test signals how internet infrastructure may evolve as demand for faster, heavier data loads continues to surge worldwide.
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