Chinese team claims astonishing new fiber transfer speed world record incredible 3.2 Petabits per second transfer is the same as downloading over 20,000 4K movies in a second

Date:
Mon, 02 Nov 2026 01:15:00 +0000

Description:
Chinese researchers report 3.2 Pb/s real-time transmission across a 24-core fibre, surpassing their earlier record but remaining below higher laboratory benchmarks

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Chinese researchers report 3.2 Pb/s transmission across a 24-core optical fiber Spatial division
multiplexing carries separate data streams through one fiber S+C+L transmission uses three wavelength bands to carry information Researchers in China say they have transmitted data at 3.2 Pb/s through a 24-core optical fiber, setting a new real-time speed record.

At that capacity, data equivalent to thousands of ultra-high-definition films could theoretically move through the connection in just one second. The new figure exceeds the team's previous 2.5 Pb/s record, set earlier this year using similar 24-core fiber technology. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: How the researchers reached 3.2 Pb/s The project brought together specialists from the National Key Laboratory of Optical
Communication Technology, China Information and Communication Technologies Group, Pengcheng Laboratory, and Fiberhome Fujikura Fiber Optic Technology.

Their system combined spatial division multiplexing with S+C+L multi-band transmission, two methods intended to increase information carried through existing optical infrastructure networks. You may like Meta unfurls Petal, a 1,000,000 Gbps internet cable 4,300 miles long that's 3.3 million times quicker than the average US connection, and probably fast enough to transfer all original songs ever produced in less than a second Laser internet breakthrough sends data through the air without distortion UK's fastest ever internet connection is 8.5Gbps but costs 300 per month

Spatial division multiplexing separates information into distinct channels within one fiber, allowing multiple independent data streams to travel simultaneously through the cable.

The S, C and L bands use different wavelength ranges, enabling transmission across a wider section of the optical spectrum. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Combining the techniques created engineering difficulties, particularly interference between neighbouring channels carrying simultaneous signals through the fibre network and equipment.

The team also had to manage differing specifications across the three wavelength bands without allowing those variations to undermine transmission performance.

The test hit record figures with hardware architectures described as
compliant with commercial requirements and operated continuously in real
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That operating condition distinguishes the result from demonstrations relying on experimental equipment or signal-processing arrangements developed specifically for laboratory research.

The Hubei provincial government website compared the capacity with internet access for approximately 3.2 million households using separate 1 Gbps connections simultaneously.

The report describes the rate as sufficient to download more than 20,000 4K movies within one second, under ideal conditions.

These comparisons describe theoretical network capacity, rather than evidence that individual households could receive such speeds through ordinary broadband subscriptions. The gap between commercial hardware and laboratory records The new figure does not represent the highest speed reported for transmission through a 24-core optical fibre.

Laboratory research has reached 5.29 Pb/s using comparable multi-core fiber, exceeding the Chinese group's latest result by over two petabits.

Those experiments, however, may depend on advanced processing methods and specialist laboratory equipment that remain unsuitable for routine network deployment.

The Chinese groups reported use of commercially compliant hardware is a significant feature of its claim, although it does not establish immediate commercial availability.

A successful real-time demonstration alone cannot confirm long-term reliability, affordable operation or compatibility with existing telecommunications infrastructure under demanding operating conditions.

At the moment, there is no official deployment schedule, pricing information or independent assessment of performance during sustained operation under everyday network conditions.

Thus, there is no certainty that the technology can move beyond controlled testing into dependable telecommunications networks serving customers at scale.

However, the research has shown that combining multiple fiber channels and wavelength bands can deliver substantial capacity under practical test conditions.

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