The amount of data that can travel down a fibre optic cable depends on several factors, including the type of fibre, the equipment used at either end, and the transmission technology. Here's a breakdown:
🔹 Theoretical Limits
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Single-mode fibre: Can carry data at terabit-per-second (Tbps) speeds over hundreds or even thousands of kilometers.
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Multi-mode fibre: Typically used for shorter distances (up to a few hundred meters), with data rates generally up to 100 Gbps.
🔹 Practical Examples (as of 2025)
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Standard single-mode fibre used by ISPs and telecom companies:
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Common commercial deployments: 10 Gbps to 400 Gbps per channel.
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With Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM), you can transmit multiple wavelengths (channels) down the same fibre. For example:
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80 channels × 100 Gbps = 8 Tbps.
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Newer systems can reach 100+ Tbps over a single fibre pair.
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🔹 World Records
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Research labs have achieved data rates exceeding 1 petabit per second (Pbps) over a single fibre using advanced multiplexing and modulation techniques.
Summary Table
| Fibre Type | Typical Max Capacity (Commercial) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single-mode | 100 Gbps – 100+ Tbps | Long distances; used in backbone networks |
| Multi-mode | 1 Gbps – 100 Gbps | Short distances (e.g., data centers) |
| With DWDM | 8 Tbps – 100+ Tbps | Multiple wavelengths, cutting-edge gear |
| Research systems | 1+ Pbps | Not commercially available (yet) |
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