China Information and Communication Technology Group (CICT) based in the Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone (Optics Valley of China, or OVC) has announced a breakthrough in collaboration with Pengcheng Laboratory and Fiberhome Fujikura Optic Technology Co – achieving real-time optical transmission of 2.5 Pb/s using 24-core optical fiber and setting a new world record in optical communication.

CICT staff members conduct adjustments on the transmission system test platform in the laboratory. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

This achievement has been recognized by the prestigious Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC 2026) and will be featured in a special article in an authoritative SCI journal, cementing China's position at the forefront of global optical communication technology.

To put this into perspective, 2.5 Pb/s can transmit 290,000 GB of data per second, enabling the download of over 14,000 20GB 4K HD movies in a single second. Even the massive datasets required for AI model training can be processed instantaneously.

The experimental system utilized CICT's proprietary S/C/L integrated 400G optical module, achieving real-time error-free transmission suitable for practical applications. This milestone signifies that the deployment of this critical technology is now within reach. The advancements are set to be applied in data center interconnects, backbone optical transmission networks, and ultra-high-speed optical networks, providing a robust foundation for the digital economy's growth.

As a leading enterprise in China's optical communication sector, CICT is dedicated to pioneering research in "ultra-large capacity, ultra-high speed, and ultra-long distance" optical transmission technologies. The 2.5 Pb/s breakthrough validates the feasibility and engineering potential of space division multiplexing and multi-band fusion technologies in ultra-large capacity optical communications, offering a new approach to the development of next-generation optical communication systems.