New internet speed record: It's so fast it downloads the entire Wikipedia in one second

Spaniards can't live without the Internet. This global computer network provides access to our favorite social networks , allows us to work remotely from any city, offers the ability to contact anyone in another country, and facilitates access to information, among many other options. Furthermore, Internet access is usually quite fast , whether due to the speed of the provider, the connection technology, the telecommunications infrastructure, data compression, and the protocols that allow multiple elements of a website to load.

Surprisingly, Spain led the way in download and upload speed metrics in 2024 , but one country is also leading the way with the world's fastest internet connection . Incredibly, Japan has managed to reach speeds of 1.02 petabits per second thanks to a team of researchers from the National Institute of Information and Communications Technologies.

As reported by Gagadget , the key element of this achievement was a 19-core cable with a standard diameter (0.125 millimeters), with each core acting as an independent data link. Furthermore, to maintain the signal over such a long distance, the researchers created an intelligent amplification system that operates simultaneously with all 19 cores in two light bands, without mutual interference.

But what makes this speed possible? This connection allows, in one second, to download the entire Wikipedia , 40 million photographs, 12,000 copies of GTA V, and 85,000 4K movies. Furthermore, this technology makes it possible to run games without installing them, send large artificial intelligence models and neural networks, and even transmit virtual reality and holographic video in real time.

Looking ahead, Gagadget adds that this advancement is essential for backbone networks , as it solves the problem of signal transmission over long distances. Furthermore, while the technology uses standard-sized fiber, its commercial implementation will take time because the production of such cables will need to be determined.

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