Japan shakes the Internet speed record, can download the entire Netflix library in one second

Why it is important: In a world that is starving after faster data -think of AI training, quantum computers, 8K streaming and massive cloud backups -Japan's breakthrough exceeds the limits of what is possible with existing glass fiber look, which means that global latency is potentially structured and the connectivity increased for billion.

The news: Researchers in Japan have clocked 402 terabit per second (TBPS) about the optical standard fibers with 402 terabits that smash the previous world record and have left the average US broadband speeds (around 100 Mbit / s) in dust-there is about 4 million times faster. This speed could download the entire Netflix library in seconds or transmit 12,500 high-resolution films in a single tick.

How you did it: Under the direction of Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), the team expanded the bandwidth to 37.6 THZ with multiplexing and optical reinforcements of the multi-band wavelength. It exceeded data over 50 kilometers in stores available without unusual upgrades, which resulted in scalable for real networks. It exceeded data over 50 kilometers in stores available without unusual upgrades, which resulted in scalable for real networks.

Go deeper: This is not Japan's first rodeo – they reached 319 TBPs in 2023, but the new setup doubles efficiency with new signal boots to minimize the loss over large distances. Compared to global average values, it is a jump: Europe's top speeds float around 1 Gbit / s, while emerging technologies such as 6G only strive for terabits. Practical advantages? Faster VR worlds, immediate big data analyzes and even greener data centers by optimizing traffic.

What's next: NICT EYES Commercialization in the 2030s, but there are challenges – like the integration of them into underwater cables without hiking costs. If the AI demands that exploding, they expect more records to fall, with rivals in the USA and China can catch up. Combine these new speeds with quantum computing – bound with AI, and we could also have exponential growth in research and development.