Researchers from Aston University in Birmingham, UK, have established a new milestone in data transfer by achieving 301 terabits per second (Tbps) over a fiber optic channel. This speed dwarfs typical consumer connections, underscoring a leap forward for high-capacity networks and future communications infrastructure. The advancement was documented in a formal scientific publication on the institution’s official site.
The figure of 301 Tbps translates to the capacity to download roughly 1.8 thousand 4K movies in a single second, illustrating the scale of the breakthrough for end users and large-scale data applications alike.
The record was reached by transmitting infrared light through fiber optics operating in the E-band. This part of the spectrum is not yet deployed in commercial systems, so new hardware had to be developed to utilize it effectively.
Conventional commercial fiber links rely on the C and L bands, which cover wavelengths from about 1260 to 1675 nanometers in the electromagnetic spectrum. By contrast, visible light resides roughly between 400 and 700 nanometers.
Earlier attempts to use the E-band faced significant challenges due to high data loss, often several times greater than losses observed in the C and L band channels.
The researchers employed a combination of optical amplifiers and optical equalizers to stabilize data transmission in the E-band. These technologies help extend signal reach by boosting the strength of the light and regulating the waveform characteristics as data travels along the fiber.
The authors noted that this work marks a first successful demonstration of stable data transmission over fiber using the E-band, opening potential paths for next generation high-bandwidth networks.
In related news, Amazon announced a plan to develop a satellite internet network that uses laser communications to transfer data between space and ground stations, highlighting parallel efforts to expand high-speed connectivity beyond traditional terrestrial links. [Attribution: Industry announcements and academic literature]