Record-Breaking 402 Tbps Data Transmission: What This Means for Fiber Optic Cable Technology

Published: June 26, 2024 | Source: NICT Japan Press Release

In June 2024, a groundbreaking achievement was made in fiber optic cable technology. A joint research team from NICT (Japan), Aston University (UK), and Nokia Bell Labs (USA) successfully transmitted data at a record-breaking 402 terabits per second (Tbps) over a standard single-mode optical fiber (SMF). This innovation significantly exceeds previous transmission speeds and sets a new performance benchmark for both long-haul transmission systems and next-generation data centers.

Technology Behind the Breakthrough

Multi-band Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) across C, L, and S bands
Raman and Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFAs)
64QAM modulation formats with advanced Forward Error Correction (FEC)
Ultra-wide 37.6 THz spectrum bandwidth

All of this was achieved using commercially available standard single-mode fiber (SMF), eliminating the need for exotic materials like hollow-core fiber. This positions existing optical cable infrastructure—including undersea submarine cables and metro loops—for seamless scalability.

Why It’s a Game-Changer for Fiber Cable Technologies

This experiment proves that with enhanced transceivers and amplifiers, current fiber optic cables can double or triple in capacity without costly reconstruction. This revolutionizes applications in:

AI model training at the exascale
8K+ streaming and high-performance content delivery networks
Smart city infrastructure and V2X networks for autonomous vehicles

Impact on Cable Manufacturers and Installers

For manufacturers producing fire resistant cables (e.g., BS 6387 CWZ fire resistant cables), instrumentation cables, or coaxial cables, this shift necessitates even stricter quality control regarding attenuation, dispersion, and nonlinear behavior. Standards like XP C 32 - 321 French Standard cables and EN 50288 - 7 will become even more crucial in long-distance deployments.

System integrators and ISPs can now target 400% higher bandwidth via C+L+S band amplifiers, while maintaining lower infrastructure costs. This also impacts those deploying RS485 cables or upgrading armoured data cables for hyperscale computing.

Submarine and Fire-Resistant Applications

The upgrade in amplification and modulation benefits not just terrestrial but also submarine cable networks. Builders can design new repeaters with broader optical band capabilities, increasing bandwidth without increasing fragility. This complements the latest needs for fire resistant CAT6 and fire resistive fiber optic cables in high-risk environments like tunnels, offshore platforms, or railway infrastructure.

Expert Insight

“This is not just an academic achievement — it’s a roadmap for scalable, real-world fiber network evolution. We’re bridging the gap between today's limits and tomorrow’s demands.”
— Dr. Tetsuya Miyazaki, NICT

What This Means for BuryCable

At BuryCable, we support this future by offering a wide range of compliant and future-ready cable types, including:

Instrumentation Cables
Fire Resistant cables
EN 50288 - 7 Cables
XP C 32 - 321 French Standard cables
Coaxial Cables and RS485 Cables
Power & Control Cables