Japan Sets New Internet Speed World Record at 402 Tbps Using Standard Fiber Technology

With an incredible 402 terabits per second (Tbps), Japan has shattered the record for internet speed. The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) used ordinary optical fiber to reach this milestone in March 2024. It’s over a million times faster than typical home internet. This article explains how Japan did it, what it means, and when you might see faster internet. 

Why Japan’s 402 Tbps Record Is a Game-Changer

This record shatters the previous 321 Tbps mark set in 2023. It shows what’s possible with existing fiber cables. Here’s why it’s a big deal:

• Mind-Blowing Speed: 402 Tbps equals 402 million Mbps, enough to download 12,500 HD movies in one second.
• Cost-Effective: It uses standard fiber, avoiding expensive new cables.
• Future-Ready: It supports growing demands for streaming, AI, and virtual reality.

How Did Japan Achieve 402 Tbps?

NICT’s team used cutting-edge technology to push data through standard optical fiber. Here’s how they did it:

• Multi-Band Transmission: They used all six wavelength bands (O, E, S, C, L, U) for data transfer.
• Advanced Amplifiers: Six doped-fiber amplifiers and Raman amplification boosted signals over 50 km.
• Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM): This split data into 1,505 channels, maximizing bandwidth at 37.6 THz.

The setup was tested in a lab, but it used real-world fiber cables. This makes it scalable for future use.

Who Made This Possible?

An international team led by NICT’s Photonic Network Laboratory collaborated with Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies (UK) and Nokia Bell Labs (USA). Dr. Ben Puttnam presented the findings at the 2024 Optical Fiber Communications Conference.[](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/japan-achieves-staggering-402-tbs-data-rate-with-commercial-optical-fiber-record-breaking-performance-tapped-into-unused-wavelength-bands)

What Does 402 Tbps Mean for You?

This speed is far beyond home internet, which averages 100–250 Mbps globally. For context:

• United States: Average download speed is 248 Mbps.
• United Arab Emirates: Fastest public speed at 291 Mbps.
• 402 Tbps: 1.6 million times faster than U.S. broadband.

You could download your entire Steam library or Netflix’s catalog instantly. But home devices can’t handle this speed yet.

When Will You Get This Speed?

This record was set in a lab, not homes. Here’s what needs to happen for wider use:

• Infrastructure Upgrades: Networks need new amplifiers and equalizers.
• Device Improvements: PCs and storage must handle massive data rates.
• Investment: Telecom companies must fund real-world deployment.

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