High-speed long-distance fiber optic communication networks

Leading enterprises in high-speed, long-distance fiber optic communication include Sumitomo Electric, NTT Corporation, and NEC, driving innovations in multicore fibers and space-division multiplexing for terabit-scale transmission.Key Enterprises and AchievementsSumitomo Electric Industries has been at the forefront of developing multicore optical fibers for long-distance, high-capacity transmission. In collaboration with the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Sumitomo Electric helped achieve a world record of 1.02 petabits per second over 1,808 km using a 19-core optical fiber with a standard 0.125 mm cladding diameter. This technology significantly extends transmission distance while maintaining compatibility with existing fiber infrastructure and supports optical amplification across multiple cores . NTT Corporation has pioneered space-division multiplexing using multicore fibers. They successfully demonstrated 455 terabits per second over 53.5 km and 389 terabits per second over 1,017 km in terrestrial field conditions using 12-coupled-core fibers combined with large-scale MIMO signal processing. These experiments highlight NTT's role in developing high-capacity backbone networks capable of handling increasing global data traffic . NEC Corporation, in partnership with NTT, conducted a transoceanic-class 7,280 km transmission experiment using coupled 12-core multicore fibers. This achievement demonstrates the potential for next-generation optical submarine cables and long-haul networks, addressing the growing demand for international data transmission and supporting future 5G/6G infrastructure .Supporting TechnologiesHigh-speed, long-distance fiber optic communication relies on several advanced technologies:Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM): Enables multiple optical signals on different wavelengths to travel simultaneously, greatly increasing capacity .Optical Amplifiers (EDFAs): Amplify light signals directly without electrical conversion, essential for long-haul transmission .Advanced Modulation Formats: Techniques like DP-QPSK and coherent optics enhance data density and resilience to noise .Space Division Multiplexing (SDM): Uses multicore fibers to multiply spatial channels within a single fiber, increasing overall throughput .High-Performance Optical Transceivers: Companies like LINK-PP manufacture robust transceivers optimized for long-haul, high-speed applications .SummaryEnterprises such as Sumitomo Electric, NTT, and NEC are leading the development of high-speed, long-distance fiber optic communication. Their innovations in multicore fibers, space-division multiplexing, and advanced optical transmission systems are enabling terabit-scale data transfer over thousands of kilometers, forming the backbone of future global communication networks . These technologies are critical for supporting the exponential growth of data traffic, AI applications, and next-generation mobile networks.