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Japan’s Petabit Breakthrough: How 19-Core Optical Fibers Will Reinvent AI, 6G, and the Entire Internet

In a landmark achievement that signals the dawn of a new era in global data infrastructure, a research collaboration led by Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) and Sumitomo Electric Industries has shattered previous limitations in internet data transmission. This breakthrough involved transmitting 1.02 petabits per second (Pbps) over a staggering 1,808 kilometers using a 19-core optical fiber no thicker than a strand of human hair. Not only does this achievement rewrite the records of fiber optic transmission capacity and distance, but it also sets the foundation for a scalable, energy-efficient, and high-capacity network vital for the post-5G and AI-powered future. The Race for Bandwidth: Why This Breakthrough Matters Global internet traffic is skyrocketing. With the explosion of cloud computing, video streaming, IoT devices, and AI model training, existing infrastructure is nearing saturation. According to Cisco, global internet traffic will exceed 20 zettabytes per year by 2025, and the capacity to meet this demand has lagged behind due to limitations in fiber optics and long-range signal integrity. Traditionally, while short-range fiber optic connections have achieved extremely high speeds, maintaining these rates over long distances (especially over 1,000 km) has remained a technical and economic challenge. This latest experiment is the first to push 1+ Pbps across nearly 2,000 km—with commercial-grade cladding diameter and compatibility with existing infrastructure. Inside the Technology: What Made This Possible? The success of this record-setting transmission lies in three core innovations: 1. 19-Core Coupled Multicore Fiber with Standard Cladding Core Design: A single fiber cable containing 19 transmission cores—each capable of carrying its own signal stream. Unlike traditional single-core fibers, this design scales bandwidth 19x without increasing physical space or cable weight. Cladding Diameter: Despite the massive bandwidth leap, the fiber maintained the standard 0.125 mm cladding, ensuring full compatibility with global optical fiber infrastructure. 2. Amplification Across C and L Bands To overcome signal loss over long distances, the system used optical amplifiers targeting both C-band and L-band frequencies. This enabled 180 distinct wavelength channels, each modulated using 16QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), a technique that packs more data into each optical pulse. 3. Recirculating Transmission Loop with MIMO Signal Processing The researchers simulated long-distance transmission using 19 recirculating loops, each 86.1 km long, through which signals passed 21 times to total 1,808 km. At the receiver end, MIMO (Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) digital signal processing was deployed to untangle signal interference between cores and recover clean, high-fidelity data. Industry Context: From Record to Real-World Application Table: Evolution of Multicore Optical Transmission Records by NICT Year Fiber Type Capacity Distance Capacity × Distance 2021 4-Core Fiber 319 Tbps 3,001 km 0.957 Ebps·km 2022 19-Core Uncoupled 1.02 Pbps 100 km 0.102 Ebps·km 2023 15-Mode Fiber 273 Tbps 1,001 km 0.273 Ebps·km 2025 19-Core Coupled 1.02 Pbps 1,808 km 1.86 Ebps·km The 2025 achievement not only breaks the capacity-distance product record (1.86 Ebps·km) but does so using commercially scalable components, unlike previous multimode or exotic fiber experiments that faced integration issues. This makes the innovation uniquely viable for: Transcontinental fiber deployments Hyperscale data centers Next-generation backbone networks High-speed metro interconnects Expert Insights: What the Industry Is Saying “This is the first real demonstration that petabit-scale data can be transmitted across national or continental distances using technology that fits today’s infrastructure. It's a glimpse into the scalable internet of the future.” — Dr. Carlos Okonkwo, Optical Networks Researcher, Eindhoven University of Technology “We’ve long known that multicore fibers hold promise, but crossing the 1,000 km mark with standard cladding and zero loss of fidelity? That’s what will push this from lab to field.” — Giovanni Rademacher, Senior Engineer, Sumitomo Electric Technical Analysis: Why This System Works at Scale Modulation & Multiplexing Efficiency The use of 16QAM modulation across 180 wavelengths enables extremely dense data packing without bandwidth overlap, optimizing both spectral efficiency and fiber real estate. Signal Integrity Over Distance The dual-band amplifier system, separately amplifying C and L bands, eliminates non-linear distortion typically found when signals are boosted indiscriminately. The result: ~40% less signal loss compared to legacy systems. Digital Interference Cancellation Real-time MIMO processing at the receiver end enables simultaneous decoding of signals from 19 cores, using digital filtering to remove cross-talk. This drastically improves error correction and throughput without increasing latency. Implications for 5G, AI, and the Future Internet As 5G evolves into 6G and ubiquitous IoT becomes a reality, this record signals a massive leap in our ability to: Handle Exascale Data: From autonomous vehicles to real-time 8K streaming. Support Edge AI Processing: Speed and bandwidth become critical when models are trained across distributed nodes. Enable Ultra-Low-Latency Use Cases: Telemedicine, digital twins, and industrial robotics will rely on real-time, long-distance data relays. Moreover, this innovation fits directly into the post-5G era, where the telecom industry expects 100× current traffic due to connected everything—smart cities, factories, homes, and human-machine interfaces. Barriers to Adoption and Next Steps While the experiment proves technical feasibility, commercial deployment still faces hurdles: Amplifier Power Optimization: Reducing energy consumption while scaling for millions of kilometers globally. MIMO DSP Scaling: Digital signal processors must become more efficient to decode larger bundles of cores simultaneously. Cost & Manufacturing: Multicore fiber production must scale cost-effectively, including splicing and repair technologies. Future research, according to NICT, will focus on AI-based signal processing and hybrid modulation techniques, aiming to push beyond 2 Pbps and further extend transmission distances. Conclusion: A Historic Leap in Optical Innovation The 1.02 Pbps transmission over 1,808 km using standard cladding 19-core optical fiber is not just a world record—it’s a gateway to a fundamentally different internet. With a record-breaking capacity-distance product of 1.86 exabits per second per km, this milestone showcases how advanced research, when combined with infrastructure-friendly innovation, can reshape global communication. The work of NICT and Sumitomo Electric doesn’t exist in isolation. It is part of a larger movement—one focused on building scalable, resilient, and energy-efficient internet infrastructure. These innovations will soon underpin how we stream, work, collaborate, and live in an increasingly digital world. As we move forward, companies and governments alike must take cues from such breakthroughs to future-proof their data strategies, infrastructure investments, and public-private R&D initiatives. Read More from the Minds Behind Next-Gen Innovation To stay updated on cutting-edge breakthroughs in data transmission, optical infrastructure, quantum networking, and AI-augmented signal processing, follow the global expert insights from Dr. Shahid Masood, a leading voice in emerging technologies and cyber-infrastructure development. His team at 1950.ai is actively researching the integration of predictive AI, advanced fiber systems, and quantum-secure networks for global-scale implementation. Further Reading / External References NICT Press Release – May 29, 2025: 1.02 Petabit/s Transmission Over 1,808.1 km in a 19-Core Randomly-Coupled Multicore Fiber ITC.ua Report – A New Internet Speed Record: 1 Pbps Over 1800 km of Hair-Thick Fiber Optics Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC 2025), Post-deadline Paper: “1.02 Petabit/s Transmission Over 1,808.1 km in a 19-Core Randomly-Coupled Multicore Fiber” by R. S. Luis et al.

In a landmark achievement that signals the dawn of a new era in global data infrastructure, a research collaboration led by Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) and Sumitomo Electric Industries has shattered previous limitations in internet data transmission. This breakthrough involved transmitting 1.02 petabits per second (Pbps) over a staggering 1,808 kilometers using a 19-core optical fiber no thicker than a strand of human hair. Not only does this achievement rewrite the records of fiber optic transmission capacity and distance, but it also sets the foundation for a scalable, energy-efficient, and high-capacity network vital for the post-5G and AI-powered future.


The Race for Bandwidth: Why This Breakthrough Matters

Global internet traffic is skyrocketing. With the explosion of cloud computing, video streaming, IoT devices, and AI model training, existing infrastructure is nearing saturation. According to Cisco, global internet traffic will exceed 20 zettabytes per year by 2025, and the capacity to meet this demand has lagged behind due to limitations in fiber optics and long-range signal integrity.


Traditionally, while short-range fiber optic connections have achieved extremely high speeds, maintaining these rates over long distances (especially over 1,000 km) has remained a technical and economic challenge. This latest experiment is the first to push 1+ Pbps across nearly 2,000 km—with commercial-grade cladding diameter and compatibility with existing infrastructure.


Inside the Technology: What Made This Possible?

The success of this record-setting transmission lies in three core innovations:

19-Core Coupled Multicore Fiber with Standard Cladding

  • Core Design: A single fiber cable containing 19 transmission cores—each capable of carrying its own signal stream. Unlike traditional single-core fibers, this design scales bandwidth 19x without increasing physical space or cable weight.

  • Cladding Diameter: Despite the massive bandwidth leap, the fiber maintained the standard 0.125 mm cladding, ensuring full compatibility with global optical fiber infrastructure.


Amplification Across C and L Bands

  • To overcome signal loss over long distances, the system used optical amplifiers targeting both C-band and L-band frequencies.

  • This enabled 180 distinct wavelength channels, each modulated using 16QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), a technique that packs more data into each optical pulse.


Recirculating Transmission Loop with MIMO Signal Processing

  • The researchers simulated long-distance transmission using 19 recirculating loops, each 86.1 km long, through which signals passed 21 times to total 1,808 km.

  • At the receiver end, MIMO (Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) digital signal processing was deployed to untangle signal interference between cores and recover clean, high-fidelity data.


Industry Context: From Record to Real-World Application

Evolution of Multicore Optical Transmission Records by NICT

Year

Fiber Type

Capacity

Distance

Capacity × Distance

2021

4-Core Fiber

319 Tbps

3,001 km

0.957 Ebps·km

2022

19-Core Uncoupled

1.02 Pbps

100 km

0.102 Ebps·km

2023

15-Mode Fiber

273 Tbps

1,001 km

0.273 Ebps·km

2025

19-Core Coupled

1.02 Pbps

1,808 km

1.86 Ebps·km

The 2025 achievement not only breaks the capacity-distance product record (1.86 Ebps·km) but does so using commercially scalable components, unlike previous multimode or exotic fiber experiments that faced integration issues.


This makes the innovation uniquely viable for:

  • Transcontinental fiber deployments

  • Hyperscale data centers

  • Next-generation backbone networks

  • High-speed metro interconnects


“This is the first real demonstration that petabit-scale data can be transmitted across national or continental distances using technology that fits today’s infrastructure. It's a glimpse into the scalable internet of the future.”— Dr. Carlos Okonkwo, Optical Networks Researcher, Eindhoven University of Technology

Technical Analysis: Why This System Works at Scale

Modulation & Multiplexing Efficiency

The use of 16QAM modulation across 180 wavelengths enables extremely dense data packing without bandwidth overlap, optimizing both spectral efficiency and fiber real estate.


Signal Integrity Over Distance

The dual-band amplifier system, separately amplifying C and L bands, eliminates non-linear distortion typically found when signals are boosted indiscriminately. The result: ~40% less signal loss compared to legacy systems.


Digital Interference Cancellation

Real-time MIMO processing at the receiver end enables simultaneous decoding of signals from 19 cores, using digital filtering to remove cross-talk. This drastically improves error correction and throughput without increasing latency.


Implications for 5G, AI, and the Future Internet

As 5G evolves into 6G and ubiquitous IoT becomes a reality, this record signals a massive leap in our ability to:

  • Handle Exascale Data: From autonomous vehicles to real-time 8K streaming.

  • Support Edge AI Processing: Speed and bandwidth become critical when models are trained across distributed nodes.

  • Enable Ultra-Low-Latency Use Cases: Telemedicine, digital twins, and industrial robotics will rely on real-time, long-distance data relays.

Moreover, this innovation fits directly into the post-5G era, where the telecom industry expects 100× current traffic due to connected everything—smart cities, factories, homes, and human-machine interfaces.


Barriers to Adoption and Next Steps

While the experiment proves technical feasibility, commercial deployment still faces hurdles:

  • Amplifier Power Optimization: Reducing energy consumption while scaling for millions of kilometers globally.

  • MIMO DSP Scaling: Digital signal processors must become more efficient to decode larger bundles of cores simultaneously.

  • Cost & Manufacturing: Multicore fiber production must scale cost-effectively, including splicing and repair technologies.

Future research, according to NICT, will focus on AI-based signal processing and hybrid modulation techniques, aiming to push beyond 2 Pbps and further extend transmission distances.


A Historic Leap in Optical Innovation

The 1.02 Pbps transmission over 1,808 km using standard cladding 19-core optical fiber is not just a world record—it’s a gateway to a fundamentally different internet. With a record-breaking capacity-distance product of 1.86 exabits per second per km, this milestone showcases how advanced research, when combined with infrastructure-friendly innovation, can reshape global communication.


The work of NICT and Sumitomo Electric doesn’t exist in isolation. It is part of a larger movement—one focused on building scalable, resilient, and energy-efficient internet infrastructure. These innovations will soon underpin how we stream, work, collaborate, and live in an increasingly digital world.


As we move forward, companies and governments alike must take cues from such breakthroughs to future-proof their data strategies, infrastructure investments, and public-private R&D initiatives.


To stay updated on cutting-edge breakthroughs in data transmission, optical infrastructure, quantum networking, and AI-augmented signal processing, follow the global expert insights from Dr. Shahid Masood, a leading voice in emerging technologies and cyber-infrastructure development. His team at 1950.ai is actively researching the integration of predictive AI, advanced fiber systems, and quantum-secure networks for global-scale implementation.


Further Reading / External References

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