Chinese researchers push real-time optical data speeds past three petabits per second

A consortium of Chinese research groups has achieved a real-time optical transmission rate of 3.2 petabits per second over a 10.3-kilometer stretch of fiber-optic cable. The trial, conducted by engineers from China Information and Communication Technologies Group, Peng Cheng Laboratory, and FiberHome Fujikura, surpasses their previous 2.5-petabit record established earlier this year. The bidirectional throughput is theoretically sufficient to deliver concurrent gigabit broadband to 3.2 million homes. [1][2]

The test routed thousands of parallel channels across three distinct wavelength bands over a 24-core fiber line. While earlier academic experiments reached higher lab speeds of up to 5.29 petabits per second, those relied on specialized offline signal processing. In contrast, this project used self-developed optical modules and commercial-grade architectures operating in real time, successfully overcoming band discrepancies and crosstalk interference. [1][2]

Researchers point to surging artificial intelligence computing demands as a primary driver for expanding bandwidth, warning that standard single-mode fibers are rapidly reaching physical capacity. If deployed, multi-petabit optical systems could serve as backbone infrastructure connecting vast AI data centers and supporting future 6G telecommunication networks. [1]