Japan’s new web velocity report makes right now’s broadband look historical

Over the previous 20 years, internet speeds have vastly improved due to advances in fiber expertise. Whereas gigabit web is turning into more common within the US, it nonetheless lags behind the speeds not too long ago achieved by researchers in Japan.

In line with the Nationwide Institute of Info and Communications Expertise (NICT) in Japan, it has set a brand new world report for web velocity, reaching 1.02 petabits per second over a distance of 1,123 miles. That equals about 127,500 GB/s, and roughly the space between Chicago and Dallas. With that velocity, you possibly can obtain Netflix’s total streaming library in only one second (by way of CNET). You’d additionally by no means have a problem downloading a 100GB online game ever once more.

Within the US, web velocity is normally measured in megabits per second (Mbps). If you happen to convert Japan’s achievement, it equals roughly 1,020,000,000 Mbps. In line with Speedtest, the common fastened broadband web velocity within the US is round 288 Mbps. So, the velocity researchers in Japan have simply reached is greater than 3 million occasions sooner.

How did NICT researchers obtain this?

They used a 19-core optical fiber cable

Japan’s NICT achieved its new web velocity report by creating an optical fiber with 19 cores, built-in right into a cable measuring simply 0.125mm in diameter. This measurement is commonplace for fiber optic cables used globally, indicating potential for widespread adoption attributable to its compatibility with current community infrastructure, like undersea cables.

“The analysis of ultra-high-capacity transmission utilizing coupled 19-core optical fibers and superior optical amplification has vastly superior the event of expertise for the conclusion of high-capacity, long-distance optical communication infrastructure sooner or later,” the NICT report states.

This is not the primary time the NICT has damaged a report both. Final 12 months, it shattered the web velocity report with a velocity of fifty,250 GB/s. Now in 2025, it has damaged its report by over double.

With the worldwide demand for larger web bandwidth rising — particularly for cloud storage, AI, and high-quality streaming — the NICT’s breakthrough marks an important step in addressing the growing want for extra bandwidth. In line with Nielsen’s Law, world bandwidth calls for have elevated by 50 p.c yearly since 1983, indicating that sooner or later, 1.02 petabits per second could also be wanted.

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