Aston University Shatters Optical Fiber Speed Records

Breakthrough in Optical Fiber Technology at Aston University
In a new breakthrough, researchers from Aston University and their international colleagues have achieved the all-time high record for power through optical fiber. This new technology will facilitate faster data transmission times and entirely revolutionize our thinking about our data.

The Breakthrough
The team of researchers at Aston University, together with colleagues from the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology in Japan and Nokia Bell Labs in the USA, achieved 402 terabits per second of data transmission over an ordinary optical fiber. For comparison, that is 1.6 million times faster than average home broadband speeds.

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Key Highlights* New Wavelength Bands: These new wavelength bands are those that the general fiber optic systems of today have exploited. The E-band and S-band, the bands in and around the well-used C- and L-bands respectively, offer much larger data transmission spectrums. Optical amplifiers: By using optical amplifiers, the technology accesses new bands whereby an optical processor interfaces new wavelength bands to much faster transmission of data thereby increases the capacities manifold using existing optical fibres. Sustainable Technology:** What is most impressive about this innovation is that it utilizes the existing infrastructure of the fiber optic material. This translates to not requiring great and very expensive reconstructions of the already existing networks. With that, this technology becomes sustainable and economically viable.
Consequences for the Future

The breakthrough could mean much more for the future of data transmission and communication networks, since this would make it possible to answer the increased demands imposed by applications such as artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing. It therefore allows much higher speeds over the Internet for much better digital experiences.

Conclusion
The pioneering research work on Aston University's optical fibre makes huge steps toward propelling the human race further to multiply what today has become normal to handle and transmit. This has brought about some important steps in opening the possibility for communication networks of the future via testing the boundaries of what is possible with existing infrastructures. With rising data demands, such innovation will be very much at the core to ensure our digital infrastructure keeps pace. These changes just reflect how the research and collaboration advanced the capabilities of the optical fiber technology. The work of scientists at Aston University signifies that creativity and advanced technology combined can change our world.