A team of Japanese scientists achieved a record-breaking data transmission speed of 402 Tbps by tapping into previously unused frequency bands in commercial fiber optic cables. Led by the Photonic Network Laboratory at Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), the research team demonstrated an optical transmission bandwidth of 37.6 terahertz (THz), surpassing previous data rate records.
By developing the first all-band optical transmission system (OESCLU) using standard fiber cables and multiple amplifier technologies, including 6 doped fiber amplifiers, the researchers were able to access wavelength ranges not previously utilized in deployed systems. This breakthrough technology will significantly expand the capabilities of optical transmission infrastructure to meet the growing demand for data services in the future.
In their experiment, the team expanded dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) to cover all major frequency bands, achieving over 1,500 parallel channels in a bandwidth of 37.6 THz. The transmission system, known as O- to U-band, utilized standard off-the-shelf fiber with custom-designed amplifier technology to achieve the unprecedented data rate of 402 Tb/s over a distance of 40 km.
NICT will continue to advance research and development in amplifier technology, components, and optical fibers to support applications in both the near and long term. The team aims to extend the transmission range of ultra-wideband systems with ultra-high power, further enhancing the information transmission capacity of optical fibers.