Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 2 hrs ago
Chinese researchers claim 3.2 petabits-per-second fiber record
A Chinese research team says it set a real-time fiber transmission record at 3.2 petabits per second.
The test used a 24-core optical fiber, which can carry separate streams of data through different channels in one cable.
The researchers combined that approach with three wavelength bands to increase how much information the fiber could carry.
Their result exceeds their earlier 2.5-petabit record, but a laboratory test using comparable fiber has reached 5.29 petabits per second.
The team says its system used commercially compliant hardware, unlike some laboratory demonstrations that rely on specialist equipment.
The speed comparisons to thousands of 4K films describe theoretical capacity, not speeds available to ordinary households.
There is no deployment schedule or independent long-term assessment, so it remains unclear whether the technology can work reliably and affordably in everyday networks.
Chinese researchers say they transmitted data at 3.2 petabits per second through a 24-core optical fiber.
The team says the result sets a new real-time speed record.
The system combined spatial division multiplexing with transmission across the S, C and L wavelength bands.
The reported rate exceeds the team’s earlier 2.5 petabits-per-second record, but a laboratory result using comparable fiber reached 5.29 petabits per second.
The researchers reported using hardware architectures described as compliant with commercial requirements, but no deployment schedule or independent sustained-performance assessment was provided.
- Who
- Researchers from several Chinese institutions, including China Information and Communication Technologies Group and Pengcheng Laboratory.
- What
- They report transmitting data at 3.2 petabits per second through a 24-core optical fiber.
- When
- The report was published on November 2, 2026. The test date is not stated.
- Where
- China. The specific test location is not stated.
- Why
- The team combined methods intended to increase the information carried through optical networks.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The team set a previous record of 2.5 petabits per second using similar 24-core fiber technology.
TechRadar reported the team’s claim of a 3.2-petabits-per-second transmission.
- Transmission rate
- 3.2 petabits per second
- Fiber
- 24-core optical fiber
- Previous team record
- 2.5 petabits per second, set earlier in 2026
- Comparable laboratory result
- 5.29 petabits per second
- Transmission bands
- S, C and L
What people are saying
more than 20,000 4K movies