Aston University sets world record in data transmission speed

Aston University researchers have set a new world record for data transmission speed, achieving a rate of 402 terabits per second using commercially available optical fibre. This surpasses their prior record of 301 terabits per second, which was established earlier this year.

The recent breakthrough was made possible by using a broader spectrum, encompassing six bands (O, E, S, C, L, and U) as opposed to the previous four bands, significantly increasing data transmission capacity. Typically, optical systems utilise only one or two bands. This latest development involves the first optical transmission system that spans all six wavelength bands.

The international research team included members from Aston University’s Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies (AIPT), led by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) in Tokyo, Japan, with contributions from Nokia Bell Labs in the USA. Aston University's primary contribution was the development of U-band Raman amplifiers, covering the longest part of the wavelength spectrum, for which commercial amplifiers are currently unavailable.

Professor Wladek Forysiak and Dr Ian Philips from Aston University were integral members of the team. Dr Philips stated, "This finding could help increase capacity on a single fibre, so the world would have a higher performing system. The newly developed technology is expected to make a significant contribution to expand the communication capacity of the optical communication infrastructure as future data services rapidly increase demand."

Professor Forysiak added, "This is a 'hero experiment' made possible by a multi-national team effort and very recent technical advances in telecommunications research laboratories from across the world."

Optical fibres, which are small strands of glass that transmit data using light, offer a superior alternative to traditional copper cables, which cannot achieve comparable speeds. By using standard fibre already widely deployed, the new technology could potentially increase data capacity by about a third, with no need for new specialist cable installation. This could also help maintain stable broadband prices despite the improvements in capacity and speed.

The team’s experimental results were notably accepted as a post-deadline paper at the 47th International Conference on Optical Fiber Communications (OFC 2024) held in March in the USA. The accomplishment received financial backing from various sources, including the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in the UK, the Royal Society, and the European Union (EU European Training Network).