Danish researchers claim to have set a new data transfer world record by transmitting over a single optical fibre at an incredible speed of 43 terabits per second.

Researchers at Technical University of Denmark (DTU) used a new type of optical fibre to claim the world data transfer record. The team has eclipsed the record that was set by researchers at the Karlsruhe Institut fur Technologie, by proving that it is possible to transfer fully 43 terabits per second with just a single laser in the transmitter. This is an appreciable improvement on the German team's previous record of 32 terabits per second. The worldwide competition in data speed is contributing to developing the technology intended to accommodate the immense growth of data traffic on the internet, which is estimated to be growing by 40-50% annually.

What is more, emissions linked to the total energy consumption of the internet as a whole currently correspond to more than 2% of the global man-made carbon emissions — which puts the internet on a par with the transport industry (aircraft, shipping etc), researchers said.

However, these other industries are not growing by 40% a year. It is therefore essential to identify solutions for the internet that make significant reductions in energy consumption while simultaneously expanding the bandwidth. The researchers achieved their latest record by using a new type of optical fibre borrowed from the Japanese telecoms giant NNT.  This type of fibre contains seven cores (glass threads) instead of the single core used in standard fibres, which makes it possible to transfer even more data. Despite the fact that it comprises seven cores, the new fibre does not take up any more space than the standard version.