World internet speed record of 430,000Gbps achieved using bog-standard optic fiber cables, fast enough to download Battlefield 6 in one millisecond — new tech set to be critical in research for wireless 7G
Existing global fiber networks remain capable of far higher data throughput
· TechRadarNews By Efosa Udinmwen published 18 January 2026
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- NICT researchers achieved 430Tbps over conventional optical fiber
- New approach used nearly 20% less overall transmission bandwidth
- Multiple modes transmitted simultaneously in the O-band and ESCL bands
Imagine downloading the 80GB Battlefield 6 in a matters of milliseconds - at least 100x faster than the time it takes you to blink - well, this is what the world’s latest internet speed orecord ffers.
Researchers linked to the UK's Aston Unviersity and Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology reported a transmission rate of 430Tbps using standard telecom optical fiber.
The demonstration surpassed the group’s earlier 402Tbps record while relying on widely deployed single-mode fiber rather than bespoke cabling.
How capacity increased without new cables
The experiment focused on improving spectral efficiency and achieving higher throughput while using nearly 20% less overall bandwidth.
The approach builds on standard fiber already installed across global networks, which collectively exceed several billion kilometers.
By exploiting wavelengths below the traditional cutoff point, the team transmitted data using multiple modes in parallel while maintaining compatibility with existing systems.
The researchers said this method extends the usable capacity of standard-compliant fibers beyond their original design limits.
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