Download Entire Netflix Library in One Second: Japan’s NICT Sets World Internet Speed Record

Key Points

• Japan’s NICT achieves an unprecedented internet speed of 1.02 petabits per second (Pbps), setting a new global record.
• This speed is about 16 million times faster than India’s average and 3.5 million times faster than the US average in 2025.
• Record made possible by a 19-core optical fiber cable same diameter as regular fiber, but with 19 simultaneous data streams.
• Transmission covered 1,808 km (over 1,100 miles), proving feasibility for real-world, long-distance data networks.
• Potential to transform the future of AI, cloud computing, immersive tech, and global communications.

Tokyo: Japan has once again put itself at the forefront of digital technology. The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has achieved a world-record-shattering internet speed of 1.02 petabits per second (Pbps) so fast you could download the entire Netflix library in a single second or stream 10 million 8K videos all at once. This landmark speed eclipses not only India’s average broadband (about 63 Mbps) but also the best available in the US, clocking in at a level almost unimaginable for today’s everyday users.

Mind-Blowing Comparisons: How Fast Is 1.02 Pbps?

• 1.02 petabits = 1,020,000,000 megabits per second
• 16 million times India’s average speed (around 63.55 Mbps in 2025)
• 3.5 million times America’s average (279.93 Mbps in 2025)
• Download every video game on Steam in under 10 seconds
• Stream 10 million 8K videos simultaneously
• Transfer 127,500 years’ worth of music in one second

While Singapore currently tops real-world consumer speeds at 345.33 Mbps, Japan’s experimental tech redefines what’s technologically possible.

How Did Japan Do It?

The breakthrough comes thanks to advanced fiber optic engineering:

• 19-core optical fiber: Instead of a single data channel, the new fiber packs 19 parallel “lanes” into a standard 0.125 mm cable, massively multiplying bandwidth without changing physical infrastructure.
• Distance test: Signals were transmitted across 1,808 kilometers (about the distance from London to Rome!) using a looped system to simulate real-world long-haul connections.

The project was a collaboration between NICT’s Photonic Network Laboratory, Sumitomo Electric, and European partners.

Why Is This a Big Deal?

This demonstration isn’t just about raw speed. By using a fiber the same size as standard cables, the technology can be deployed cost-effectively using current infrastructure.

• Long-Distance Reliable: Unlike many lab-only records, NICT’s test covered real-world transmission distances, showing it’s ready for practical use.
• Extreme Scalability: Each second, data transmission hit a record 1.86 exabits per kilometer the most ever achieved.

Global Internet Speed in Context

India is experiencing rapid mobile data growth, with users averaging 27.5 GB per month in 2025, but broadband speeds are still much slower compared to the global record.

What Does the Future Hold?

Experts say Japan’s petabit-per-second innovation will underpin the next era of internet infrastructure:

• Cloud computing and AI: Handle far larger datasets instantly, supporting generative AI and big data analytics.
• Immersive technology: Enable seamless VR/AR and “metaverse” experiences for millions at once.
• Intercontinental networks: Support massive real-time data needs for global finance, science, and streaming.

By NICT’s estimates, this tech could transfer 26 times the total fixed broadband traffic in Japan (as of late 2024) every second. It’s seen as a foundational building block for post-5G (6G and beyond) communications.

Japan’s 1.02 petabits per second is more than a record it’s a glimpse into the hyper-connected future. While consumer networks won’t reach these dizzying heights overnight, NICT’s breakthrough proves just how fast the world can go. Now, the challenge is turning the lab speeds of today into the everyday reality of tomorrow.