New record: researchers achieve connection speed of 402 Tbps

An international team of researchers led by Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NCIT) has set a new internet speed record. During tests conducted in the first half of the year, the group achieved the connection speed of 402 terabits per second (Tbps).

The number surpasses the previous records of 321 Tbps and 226 Tbps, recorded in 2023 and 2022, respectively. And to reach it, experts created a optical transmission system capable of exploring previously unused wavelength bandsas revealed by the entity on the 26th.

Advances achieved in the experiment compared to previous connection speed records.Source: NCIT/Disclosure

The technique also included the use of state-of-the-art signal amplifiers and gain equalizersallowing a total bandwidth of 37.6 THz to be reached, equivalent to 100,000 times the bandwidth supported by Wi-Fi 7. In the laboratory experiment, a 50 km fiber optic network was used.

According to NCIT, this type of technology can help meet the ever-increasing demand for data from communication services that require extremely high connection speeds. In addition, it enables improve the transmission rates of existing fiber optic networksincreasing their useful life.

Downloads in milliseconds

Despite the advances, the connection speed of 402 Tbps is still a long way off for home networks. The high costs of providing the service and the incompatibility with current equipment, capable of supporting a maximum of 10 Gbps, are some of the factors that hinder availability for ordinary users.

The transmission method developed in Japan also requires more research and resources before it can be made commercially availablewhich could delay its availability to the general public. But if the technology were available today, it would allow games and movies to be downloaded in milliseconds.

If the new record internet speed were available now, it would be possible to download the entire collection at once. Fallout 4, Red Dead Redemption 2 e Baldur’s Gate 3 in less than a tenth of a second, as highlighted by PC Gamer. You could do it too transfer the entire Netflix catalog in seconds.