Researchers from the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) in Japan, Eindhoven University of Technology, and La Sapienza University have achieved a breakthrough in data transmission, demonstrating that a single optical fiber cable composed of multiple fibers can transmit data at a rate of up to 22.9 Pb/s (1 Petabit = 1000 Terabits). This surpasses the previous world record of 10.66 Pb/s, more than doubling the data transmission capacity.

The researchers accomplished this breakthrough by combining the latest research technologies with space-division multiplexing (SDM) and wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM). SDM uses multiple-core fibers and various transmission technologies to handle over 100 spatial channels, which are then combined with multi-bandwidth WDM. The researchers merged this 38-core, three-mode cable using a multi-frequency-compatible MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) receiver.

NICT stated that this is the first time different multiplexing technologies have been combined, leading to a significant advancement in data transmission technology. The research findings were presented at the 49th European Conference on Optical Communication in Glasgow and have been accepted. While the technology is ready to be integrated into existing global optical infrastructure, upgrades to current telecom centers using ultra-high-capacity fibers are still required.

In summary, once deployed, this technology is expected to increase the data throughput capability of new infrastructure by three orders of magnitude (1000 times). However, it remains uncertain which method is the most commercially viable, as records for optical fiber transmission speeds continue to be broken.