In the realm of data transmission, speed is everything. In February, at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland, a ground-breaking IT update unfolded. Two network engineers, Edwin Verheul and Joachim Opdenakker, were tasked with setting up a data link that could deliver an astounding speed of 800 gigabits per second (Gbps). This speed is mind-blowing, being over 11,000 times faster than the average broadband speed in the UK.
With bated breath, the engineers initiated the process. Success was marked by high-fives and jubilant celebrations. This new link enables faster access to experiment results from the LHC, connecting Switzerland to data storage sites in The Netherlands. This achievement underscores the challenges and triumphs in the ceaseless pursuit of faster data transmission.
Setting Up the Lightning-Fast Data Link
In February, at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) located in CERN, Switzerland, two network engineers, Edwin Verheul and Joachim Opdenakker, were about to perform a nerve-wracking IT update. They were setting up a new data link designed to transport data at speeds of 800 gigabits per second (Gbps). To put this into perspective, that’s more than 11,000 times faster than the average broadband speed in the UK.
Holding their breath, the engineers pressed a button and watched as text appeared on a black screen in front of them. It had worked. Joachim Opdenakker recalled the moment, saying, ‘There was high-fiving involved… It was super-cool to see.’ This new link now connects the LHC in Switzerland with data storage sites in The Netherlands. It promises to give scientists quicker access to the results of LHC experiments.
Testing and Achieving Record Speeds
A subsequent test in March, using special gear from Nokia, confirmed that the desired speeds were indeed achievable. Edwin Verheul explained the significance of the equipment: ‘This transponder that Nokia uses, it’s like a celebrity,’ he said. The hardware is highly sought after, meaning they had limited time to run their tests. If they had delayed by even a week, the transponder would have been allocated to another project.
This immense bandwidth is extremely fast but does not yet match the speeds achieved by some subsea cables, which can be a few hundred times faster by using multiple fibre strands. After its upgrade, the LHC is expected to produce five times more data than it currently does, making such high-speed links essential for efficient data handling.
Networking experts worldwide are developing fibre optic systems that push data at extraordinary speeds, reaching many petabits per second (Pbps). These speeds are 300 million times faster than the average broadband connection of a UK household. Engineers are driven to prove that pushing such vast amounts of data rapidly is possible and continually seek to improve.
Challenges of Long-Distance Data Transmission
The duplex cable connecting CERN to data centres in The Netherlands is nearly 1,650km long. It runs from Geneva to Paris, then Brussels, and finally Amsterdam. One major challenge in achieving 800 Gbps speeds is maintaining strong light pulses over such a long distance.
As Joachim Opdenakker explained, ‘Due to the distance, the power levels of that light decrease, so you have to amplify it at different locations.’ Every time a subatomic particle crashes during LHC experiments, the impact results in massive volumes of data. This data needs to be slimmed down for storage but still requires substantial bandwidth to handle.
With an expected upgrade by 2029, the LHC is projected to produce even more data. The upgrade will increase the number of collisions in experiments by at least five times, according to James Watt, senior vice president and general manager of optical networks at Nokia.
Breaking World Records in Data Transmission
The speed of 800 Gbps might seem impressive, but recent advancements show even more astonishing capabilities. In November, researchers from Japan set a new world record for data transmission by reaching 22.9 Pbps. According to Chigo Okonkwo from Eindhoven University of Technology, this staggering bandwidth could serve every person on Earth with a Netflix stream and still have capacity left over for billions more.
This record was achieved by sending pseudorandom data over a 13km fibre optic cable in a lab. Okonkwo explained that the data’s integrity is analysed post-transfer to ensure that it was sent quickly and accurately without accumulating errors. The system used to set this record relied on a new type of fibre cable containing 19 cores, unlike the standard cables used in most internet connections.
While impressive, this technology is not ready for widespread use. Replacing old fibre cables is expensive, but extending their lifetime is practical. Wladek Forysiak from Aston University in the UK revealed that his team achieved 402 terabits per second (Tbps) over a 50km optical fibre with just one core, a speed about 5.7 million times faster than the average UK home broadband connection.
Practical Applications and Future Prospects
Martin Creaner, director general of the World Broadband Association, suggested that activities within the metaverse might one day need such extreme bandwidth. His organisation predicts that home broadband speeds could reach up to 50 Gbps by 2030. However, reliability may be just as crucial as speed for certain applications.
‘For remote robotic surgery across 3,000 miles… you absolutely do not want any scenario where the network goes down,’ Creaner emphasized. Moreover, as artificial intelligence continues to advance, moving large datasets quickly will become increasingly necessary. Ian Phillips, working with Professor Forysiak, stated, ‘Bandwidth tends to find applications once it is available. Humanity finds a way of consuming it.’
Lane Burdette, research analyst at TeleGeography, noted the surprising pace at which demand for bandwidth is increasing. Nowadays, it grows by about 30% yearly on transatlantic fibre optic cables. Content provision through social media, cloud services, and video streaming now consumes far more bandwidth than in the early 2010s. In the UK, although many households can access gigabit-per-second speeds, only a third of users take advantage of this technology.
Challenges in Adapting to High-Speed Broadband
Despite the availability of fast broadband, there is still a need for awareness and adaptation. Andrew Kernahan, head of public affairs at the Internet Service Providers Association, pointed out that there is no ‘killer app’ that necessitates such speeds yet. This might change as more television content is consumed via the internet.
In conclusion, the pursuit of faster data speeds is unrelenting. Researchers and engineers worldwide are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in data transmission.
From the new data link at CERN to record-breaking achievements in Japan, the progress is awe-inspiring. This quest for speed has practical applications, such as remote surgeries and artificial intelligence, which depend on reliable and rapid data transfer.
Despite existing challenges, the future of data transmission looks bright. As technology advances, humanity will inevitably find ways to utilise this immense bandwidth, driving further innovations and improvements in various fields.