Latest news with #NICT
Digital Trends
13 hours ago
- Business
- Digital Trends
Japan shatters internet speed record, can download entire Netflix library in a seconds
Why it matters: In a world hungry for faster data—think AI training, quantum computing, 8K streaming, and massive cloud backups—Japan's breakthrough pushes the boundaries of what's possible with existing fiber optics, potentially slashing global latency and boosting connectivity for billions. The news: Researchers in Japan have clocked a mind-blowing 402 terabits per second (Tbps) over standard optical fiber, smashing the previous world record and leaving average U.S. broadband speeds (around 100 Mbps) in the dust—it's roughly 4 million times faster. This speed could download the entire Netflix library in seconds or transfer 12,500 high-definition movies in a single tick. Recommended Videos How they did it: Led by Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), the team expanded bandwidth to 37.6 THz using multi-band wavelength division multiplexing and cutting-edge optical amplifiers. They transmitted data over 50 kilometers of commercially available fiber without fancy upgrades, proving it's scalable for real-world networks. They transmitted data over 50 kilometers of commercially available fiber without fancy upgrades, proving it's scalable for real-world networks. Go deeper: This isn't Japan's first rodeo—they hit 319 Tbps in 2023, but the new setup doubles down on efficiency with novel signal boosters to minimize loss over long distances. Compared to global averages, it's a leap: Europe's top speeds hover around 1 Gbps, while emerging tech like 6G aims for mere terabits. Practical perks? Faster VR worlds, instant big-data analytics, and even greener data centers by optimizing traffic. What's next: NICT eyes commercialization in the 2030s, but challenges remain—like integrating this into undersea cables without hiking costs. As AI demands explode, expect more records to fall, with rivals in the U.S. and China racing to catch up. Couple these new speeds with quantum computing – tied to AI and we could have exponential growth in research and development as well.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Science
- Hans India
Japan Sets Record with World's Fastest Internet: 1.02 Petabits Per Second Using Standard Optical Fibre
Imagine downloading the entire Netflix library in just one second. This astonishing feat is now a reality — at least in a lab — thanks to Japanese researchers who have shattered the world record for internet speed. Scientists at the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) in Japan have successfully demonstrated a mind-boggling internet speed of 1.02 petabits per second, all while using standard-sized optical fibre cables. To put it into perspective, one petabit equals a million gigabits — or a staggering one billion megabits per second (1,020,000,000 Mbps). That's millions of times faster than the average internet speed in many countries. For example, the United States averages around 300 Mbps, while India clocks in at about 64 Mbps. The contrast is nearly unimaginable — and it opens up a future where buffering and long download times could be obsolete. What sets this breakthrough apart is not just the sheer speed, but how it was achieved. Instead of using bulky or exotic hardware, the NICT team relied on a modified version of the existing fibre-optic technology used worldwide. Their cable still measures just 0.125 mm in diameter, the same size as common optical fibres. However, inside, it's anything but ordinary. The cable contains 19 separate cores — ultra-thin pathways for transmitting data — as opposed to the single core found in conventional cables. This multi-core setup dramatically boosts bandwidth, allowing multiple data streams to travel simultaneously without increasing the cable's physical footprint. NICT didn't just prove this in a lab over short distances. They also conducted a long-distance test, transmitting data across 1,808 kilometers (1,123 miles). The experiment involved looping the signal through 19 circuits, each 86.1 km long. The result was 180 data streams operating simultaneously, producing a massive bandwidth of 1.86 exabits per second per kilometer. 'Our goal was to demonstrate that incredibly fast internet speeds can be achieved using infrastructure that already exists,' said NICT. Such incredible speeds open the door to unimaginable real-world applications. Think instant 8K ultra-HD video streaming, real-time global cloud collaboration, faster AI model training, and instant access to massive data archives. Even downloading the entire English Wikipedia — with all edits — thousands of times per second becomes a trivial task. Though the technology is still in its experimental phase, the researchers stress that the use of standard cable sizes makes widespread adoption more feasible in the future. While there's no set date for public deployment, this milestone offers a tantalizing glimpse into what could soon be a new era of high-speed connectivity. As internet demands grow with AI, immersive media, and cloud-based systems, innovations like this could lay the groundwork for global-scale, lightning-fast networks — and redefine how we interact with data.
India Today
3 days ago
- Science
- India Today
Japan's internet is so fast it can download all of Netflix in 1 second: Check speed and others details here
Imagine being able to download everything on Netflix in just one second. That might sound futuristic, but you may not have to wait 20–30 years to see it in real life. This massive internet speed limit is exactly what researchers in Japan have managed to achieve. Scientists at Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) have set a new world record for internet speed, reaching 1.02 petabits per of us measure internet speed in megabits per second (Mbps). One petabit equals one million gigabits — or a billion megabits. So this new record is roughly 1,020,000,000 Mbps. For comparison, the average internet speed in the United States is around 300 Mbps, while in India it's closer to 64 Mbps. This new speed is millions of times faster and fast enough to download Netflix's entire content library in under a speed on existing infrastructureSo, how did the researchers manage to pull this off? According to NICT, their research team used a special type of optical fibre with 19 cores. It contains 19 tiny channels that can each carry data. Normally, fibre-optic cables have just one core, but these experimental cables multiply the amount of data that can be sent, without increasing the overall size of the cable. In fact, the cable used in the experiment is the same standard size (just 0.125 mm thick) as those used globally sent over thousands of miles Notably, this test was not limited to a short distance either. The researchers transmitted data over 1,808 kilometres (about 1,123 miles), using a setup that looped the signal through 19 different circuits, each 86.1 km long. A total of 180 data streams were transmitted simultaneously, resulting in bandwidth of 1.86 exabits per second per kilometre.'Our goal was to demonstrate that incredibly fast internet speeds can be achieved using infrastructure that already exists,' said possibilitiesNow, if you're wondering what kind of real-world tasks could benefit from this speed — think big. Really big. From downloading the entire English version of Wikipedia (with all revisions) thousands of times per second, to instantly streaming 8K ultra-high-definition video, the possibilities with this massive internet speed are endless. In the future the high-performance cloud computing, AI model training, large-scale remote collaboration, and global data storage systems would all benefit from this internet speed while this technology is still in the research and development stage, the fact that it utilises standard-sized fibre cables makes real-world implementation more feasible in the near future. For now, there's no specific timeline for public rollout, but the record does offer a glimpse into the future of internet connectivity.- Ends
International Business Times
5 days ago
- Science
- International Business Times
Japan Shatters World's Fastest Internet Speed Record with Mind-Blowing 1.02 Petabits Per Second
Have you ever imagined that downloading the entire Netflix catalog in the blink of an eye or the entire Wikipedia in just a second would be a possibility? No buffering, no breaks—just clear, instant access to a whole lot of data. Now, that futuristic dream is on the brink of reality following a major new development by researchers in Japan. Researchers at the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) have smashed the world record for internet speed—again—by shunting data down a fiberoptic cable at 319 terabits per second. To understand the scale, one petabit is 1 million gigabits, which is enough bandwidth in one second to download more than 100,000 high-definition movies. By contrast, the average internet speed in India is around 63 Mbps, and in the United States, around 300 Mbps. Japan's new speed is more than 3.5 million times faster than the U.S. average and about 16 million times faster than India's. This record was not achieved with bulky or futuristic equipment. Instead, researchers upgraded what already exists. The key advancement lies in fiber-optic cable design. Conventional wires have one core, which carries all the data. But this new cable has 19 individual cores—all squeezed into the same-sized piece of fiber. T Think of it as a 19-lane expressway replacing a single-lane road—more traffic, same space, vastly more efficient. At their trial, the team managed to transmit data over a distance of 1,800 km with no decline in speed or quality. This was achieved by 86.1-km-long loops of fiber used 21 times with sophisticated amplifiers and advanced signal processing techniques. In all, they were able to deliver 180 independent streams of data at once. So what does this mean for us? At the individual consumer level, they will not be getting petabit speeds on regular home Wi-Fi any time soon. The majority of households still rely on internet links of megabit or low gigabit speeds, not anywhere near the terabit or petabit level. But the ramifications for the tech ecosystem are huge. Cloud computing, AI model training, real-time 3D simulations, autonomous vehicles, worldwide research, and even long-distance interplanetary communications could all benefit. Such speed means that data centers in separate countries could work as if they were right next door, creating seamless global processing. This speed also opens doors for emerging technologies, like 6G, smart cities, holographic communication, and ultra-high-definition media streaming, all of which require data to move faster than ever. And there's a further potential to this innovation—we can use it without needing to change the size of infrastructure." That would potentially allow telecom companies to upgrade their networks rather than build them anew from the ground up—a key consideration for global adoption. But large-scale implementation may take years. The equipment has to be uniform, costs lowered, and necessary regulatory approvals obtained.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
World's fastest internet? Japan creates a new record using standard fibre cables
Japan has pushed the boundaries of internet technology by achieving a new global record in data transmission speed. The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) announced that it reached an internet speed of 1.02 petabits per second (Pbps). This speed allows data transfers so rapid that downloading the entire Netflix library or the English version of Wikipedia would take just one second. Japan's 1.02 Pbps internet speed could transform everything you do online.(Pexels) This breakthrough speed far exceeds the current internet speeds in many countries. For instance, it is 16 million times faster than India's average internet speed, which stands at around 63.55 Mbps. Compared to the United States, Japan's new speed is approximately 3.5 million times quicker based on recent data. Also read: OpenAI prepares to take on Google Chrome with AI-driven browser, launch expected in weeks NICT explained that the goal was to demonstrate that extremely high-speed internet could be achieved over long distances using existing infrastructure. The project involved collaboration with Sumitomo Electric and European researchers. They used a specially designed optical fibre cable featuring 19 cores, each the same thickness as current cables, about 0.125 mm. How the Test Was Conducted In the experiment, data signals travelled through 19 loops of cable, each measuring 86.1 kilometres, repeated 21 times, making a total distance of 1,808 kilometres. The system handled 180 separate data streams simultaneously, pushing the data transfer rate to a record 1.86 exabits per second per km. Also read: Thomson launches AlphaBeat soundbar series in India, ranging from 80W to 200W Sumitomo Electric developed the fibre optic cable, while NICT constructed the transmission system. The team employed advanced transmitters, receivers, and related technology to reach these speeds. What This Means for the Future According to reports, this capacity means users could download the entire English Wikipedia, roughly 100 GB, 10,000 times in just one second. It would also allow instant downloads of high-resolution 8K videos. Also read: Human trials for Google's drugs made by AI set to begin soon, possibly changing how we perceive healthcare NICT highlighted that this ultra-fast internet speed can be achieved without replacing the current cable infrastructure. This advancement could support growing global demands for high-speed internet driven by data-heavy applications like streaming, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. While NICT has not provided a timeline for public deployment, this record shows significant progress in optical fibre technology and the potential for future internet capabilities worldwide.
