Internet speed in Japan is ridiculously fast: it could download all of Netflix in a second.

Japan has once again broken records in the field of telecommunications, achieving unprecedented internet speeds and transmission distances. Researchers at Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) have achieved a transmission speed of 1.02 petabits per second.

This figure is so staggering that, in theory, it would allow the entire Netflix catalog to be downloaded in just one second.

The achievement is based on a collaboration between NICT's Photonic Network Laboratory and Sumitomo Electric, along with European partners. The key to this innovation lies in the development of a special 19-core fiber optic cable, designed for high-capacity transmission over long distances.

This technological milestone, although achieved in a laboratory setting rather than on residential connections, redefines what is considered possible in data transmission. To put it in perspective, this speed is 4.6 million times faster than the average internet speed in highly connected countries like Spain, and 16 million times faster than the average speed in Colombia .

The latest breakthrough not only equaled the speed record of 1.02 petabits per second set in 2022, but also significantly extended the transmission distance, allowing data to be sent at 1,808 kilometers per second. This was achieved through a transmission system that allowed 180 data streams to be transported across 19 looped circuits. The total volume of data transmitted over this distance reached 1.86 exabits per second per kilometer, a record never seen before.

This speed is 4.6 million times faster than the average internet speed in countries with high connectivity like Spain, and 16 million times faster than the average speed in Colombia.

Beyond the impressive speed and distance figures, the most remarkable aspect of this breakthrough is its potential applicability. The fiber optic cable used in this experiment has a diameter of 0.125 mm , the same size as the fiber optic cables currently used in existing telecommunications infrastructure.

According to the NICT, this new ultra-fast network could operate with existing wired infrastructure. This means the technology has the potential to be deployed on a massive scale, transforming internet speeds globally. While this speed is still a long way off reaching homes, this Japanese record marks a promising path for the future of global connectivity.

*This article was made with the help of AI