Japanese engineers have shattered the world record for internet speed, achieving a staggering 1.02 petabits per second. This groundbreaking milestone was reached by transmitting 1.02 petabits of data—equivalent to over a million gigabytes per second—across a distance of 1,808 kilometers (approximately 1,118 miles). The feat was made possible through the use of an advanced 19-core coupled optical fiber system. But this accomplishment goes far beyond just blazing-fast internet—it represents a major leap forward in data transmission technology.
To put it simply, this speed is so extreme that you could download the entire Netflix library within seconds or stream millions of 8K videos simultaneously. What’s even more impressive is that this record-setting advancement was made possible using fiber optic technology—the same kind commonly deployed across global networks. The breakthrough is being hailed as a major step forward in the evolution of high-speed data transmission worldwide.
The researchers employed an advanced fiber optic cable containing 19 cores, rather than a single core, enabling them to send data simultaneously through multiple channels over a span of 1,800 kilometers.
As per recent reports, this new data transmission rate has overtaken the previous benchmark of 402 terabits per second, which was set at the same research institution in 2024.
Implementing and rolling out internet at such ultra-fast speeds is expected to come with a hefty price tag, making it inaccessible to the general public in the near term. Moreover, with such massive data transfer capabilities, robust cybersecurity frameworks will be essential to safeguard critical data from potential cyber threats.
Japan has consistently remained at the forefront of innovation in high-speed internet and telecom advancements. This recent breakthrough adds to the nation’s growing list of technological milestones and highlights its ongoing dedication to redefining the future of digital communication.
