Chinese Firms Achieve 51.3 Tbps Data Transmission Over 206 km Single Optical Fiber

• June 30, 2026

A significant milestone in optical communication has been reached by Chinese companies Yangtze Optical Fiber and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company (YOFC), China Telecom, and Dekoli. Together, they successfully demonstrated an unprecedented data transmission rate of 51.3 terabits per second (Tbps) over a distance of approximately 206.5 kilometers using hollow-core optical fiber technology.

Advancing Long-Distance High-Capacity Networks

The breakthrough was achieved on June 16 through experimental tests utilizing wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) over hollow-core fiber (HCF). Notably, the high capacity data transfer was maintained without the need for intermediate signal regeneration or relay stations, which traditionally are required to boost signals over long distances and help maintain transmission integrity.

This demonstration highlights the potential of hollow-core fiber in overcoming existing limitations faced by conventional solid-core fiber technologies. Hollow-core fiber allows light to travel through an air-filled core rather than glass, significantly reducing latency and transmission loss. The successful combination of HCF with WDM enables greater bandwidth and extended reach, key factors for future-proofing telecommunication networks.

China Telecom, the state-owned telecommunications operator, played a critical role in validating this technology within a real-world context, while Dekoli provided essential optical equipment for the experiment. The collaboration represents a strategic advancement in China’s efforts to enhance its communications infrastructure and expand the capabilities of long-haul data networks.

As data demand continues to escalate worldwide, advancements in fiber optic communications like this are vital for supporting next-generation applications, including cloud computing, 6G mobile networks, and large-scale data centers. Achieving over 51 Tbps across more than 200 kilometers without signal regeneration could lead to more cost-effective, energy-efficient, and reliable networks.

Details on commercial deployment timelines or pricing for this technology remain undisclosed. However, this milestone underscores the growing global competitiveness in the optical fiber sector and reflects significant progress in China’s research and development capabilities in telecommunications technology.

Chinese companies demonstrated 51.3 Tbps data transfer over hollow-core fiber across 206 km without signal regeneration.