Chinese engineers set a new real-time data transfer record of 3.2 petabits per second using a single fiber optic strand, surpassing their own previous world record by 30%.
Chinese researchers break data transfer record
Chinese state-owned group China Information and Communication Technologies (CICT) announced on October 26, 2026, that it achieved a data transfer rate of 3.2 petabits per second using a single fiber optic strand. This surpasses the previous world record set by the same team in March 2026, which was 2.5 petabits per second.Advanced fiber optic technology
The achievement was made possible by fitting 24 cores into a single fiber optic strand. Engineers optimized the geometry of the cores to avoid interference. Each core uses three frequency bands (S, C, and L), divided into hundreds of channels, creating thousands of parallel data paths within a cable only a few millimeters in diameter.Commercially available technology
The system relies on commercially available coherent optical modules, which are standard equipment already in mass production. This allows the company to claim a real-time record, as the signal is encoded and decoded on the fly without delays.Understanding the scale of the achievement
A petabit is equivalent to 1,000 terabits, or a million billion bits. In 2007, the total global data storage was about 295 exabytes, according to a study in the journal Science. At 3.2 petabits per second, a single Chinese fiber could transfer all that data in just over twelve minutes.Practical implications and limitations
Chinese researchers suggest that the system could transfer more than 20,000 4K movies in a single second. However, this figure assumes a total bidirectional capacity of 400 terabytes per second, and it depends on servers and storage that can keep up with such a high data rate.Previous records and context
Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) previously set a record of 22.9 petabits per second in 2023, but this was on an experimental fiber over a short distance and involved offline data processing. The Chinese team claims its achievement is unique due to real-time, bidirectional transmission.Future goals and challenges
The CICT team has submitted its research to the Journal of Lightwave Technology and presented it at the OFC 2026 conference. However, no peer-reviewed publication had been identified by October 27, 2026. The team aims to reach 10 petabits per second within the coming year, but commercial deployment will require significant technical advancements.Broader applications and infrastructure
Beyond AI computing, the technology aims to enhance urban networks and prepare for 6G. A next-generation AI computing center requires significantly more optical fibers than a conventional one due to the need for continuous communication among thousands of processors.Current state of fiber-optic technology in France
In France, fiber-optic subscribers currently have commercial offers capping at 8 gigabits per second, which is much lower than the 3.2 petabits per second achieved in China. These figures measure different aspects of data transmission: the Chinese result refers to infrastructure capacity, while the French figure is for individual connections. No commercial deployment schedule has been announced for the 3.2 petabits per second system.
