China sets optical fiber speed record at 3.2 Pbit/s

China's state-owned enterprise CICT has set a world record for optical fiber data transmission speed, achieving 3.2 Pbit/s in real-time.

Such a channel can provide gigabit internet to 3.2 million households simultaneously. The technology uses multi-core fiber with 24 cores, each transmitting its own data stream.

Previously, laboratory tests on similar equipment achieved speeds of 5.29 Pbit/s, but this required experimental hardware. The new result by Chinese engineers differs in its compatibility with commercial standards, bringing the technology closer to implementation in real-world networks.

Large-scale high-speed optics projects for artificial intelligence and cloud computing are included in China's new five-year plan priorities. Such fibers will first appear in backbone networks between data centers.

• Record speed: 3.2 Pbit/s over a single fiber
• Capacity: 3.2 million households with gigabit access
• Technology: 24 cores in one cable
• Status: compatible with commercial equipment