Scientists record new internet speed record

In summary, the conversation discusses the topic of Internet 2, a high-speed network that is being developed to replace the current internet infrastructure. This network is expected to have significantly faster transfer speeds and will also allow for new tasks such as virtual reality and examining objects at a microscopic and astronomical level. It is currently being used by educational and research institutions, and its implementation is hindered by cost. However, it is a real and imminent development that has the potential to greatly enhance internet capabilities.
  • #1
MacTech
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2822333.stm

Cross refrences to spymac here. [Removed Broken Link]

anyway.. my comment was...

"you know how fast porn transfers will be?"

but also could this soon be the fortelling of internet 2?
 
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Computer science news on Phys.org
  • #2
Wow that's impressive and interesting! It says it was the equivilent of two full length DvD's which impressed me the most. And No I am not embarressed to say that I didn't know that 6.7 gigabytes were equivilent to two full length DvD's :wink:
 
  • #3
but also could this soon be the fortelling of internet 2?

When is Internet 2 going to take hold. It seems to me it's just some strange organization. Is it just theory?
 
  • #4
Internet 2?

Yes, could someone tell me more about this internet2 deal, I've never heard of it before. Sounds like its suppossed to be between universities and hospitals etc... Does anyone konw how it works that gives it such great transfer speeds? What is physically different about it then internet(1?), if anything?
 
  • #5


Originally posted by climbhi
Yes, could someone tell me more about this internet2 deal, I've never heard of it before. Sounds like its suppossed to be between universities and hospitals etc... Does anyone konw how it works that gives it such great transfer speeds? What is physically different about it then internet(1?), if anything?
From the second link:
"The Internet2 backbone is already up and running across many sites-- mostly educational and research.

The single greatest impediment to widespread growth of the I2 backbone is simply cost. Existing internet infrastructure is incapable of pushing data at the I2 speeds -- it must be replaced (not just upgraded).

Most likely, the I2 backbone will continue to grow independently of the first generation internet."


I personally don't see what is the big deal with a high bandwidth, isn't it possible to have like 1000 DSL connections that are working together to provide an extremely high bandwidth ? (i know it will cost a lot, just wondering)
 
  • #6
Going from 100 concurrent DSL connections to 1000 concurrent DSL connections is a replacement. An upgrade would be going from 100 concurrent DSL connections to 100 faster or more reliable connections using a similar media.

It sounds like Internet2 is taking full advantage of the latest communication technologies.
 
  • #7
AFAIK Internet2 is one of those "discussion" organizations that exists just so important parties can coordinate their efforts... they don't actually do anything themselves.

There are a couple high-speed networks that have been up for a while now... Abilene (this is somehow related to Internet2) and vBNS, others. They only link up universities, big corporations, etc though. When I lived on-campus, we were linked into the school network and got vBNS connectivity -- downloading files from MIT or something sometimes went so fast that they saturated the local 10Mbs Ethernet.

Does anyone konw how it works that gives it such great transfer speeds?
Well, your usual DSL/cable/modem is just the part of the connection you use to get to your local ISP. They usually have direct links into the Internet backbone(s): high-speed, high-bandwidth fiberoptic (OCx) links connecting major nodes (PoPs).

Back in the day, there were just a few backbones -- UUNet, Sprint, etc -- that mainly interlinked at two points, MAE West :smile: and MAE East. Anyone else remember those days?... now it's much more complicated. Anyways, the big thing about these superfast networks are:

- They use newer, better fiber-optic cable links -- the main issue is with repeaters, since they run at electronic vs light speeds. The recent test was over OC-192, but they've developed up to OC-768 now. The OC-# is in multiples of 50 megabits/second.
- They use crazy fast and powerful routers, and effectively optimizie traffic.

It's pretty cool stuff... you can check out Abilene and vBNS network maps:

[Removed Broken Link]
http://abilene.internet2.edu/

and look up terms above to find out more. :)
 
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  • #8
One of the coolest innovations in this field was wavelength division multiplexing. It is now possible to send 256 simultaneous signals through a single fiber. Each signal is very close to 1500 nm light, but just barely different so as to be distinguishable by the multiplexer. Technology exists to make the detectors/repeaters run at about 90 GHz, making it possible to transmit nearly 25 terrabits/ second. There is a big difference between what can be built in the lab and what can be put in the ground though.

Njorl
 
  • #9
The Wave Division Multiplexing actually happens in two major bands, one around 1520nm and the other around 1460nm. Technological issues make it difficult to go much beyond this, as fibres are optimised for transmission between 1500-1550 nm.
The greatest speed impediment occurs during the transition from an optical signal to a electrical signal, in most cases it is the electrical bandwidth rather than the optical bandwidth of a system that slows things down.

A great new innovation called the Photonic Crystal is making big promises in how we can control and manipulate light on a small scale, using Bragg reflection principles rather than ordinary total internal reflection principles. It is exciting as it could resolve the optical > electrical issue that I outlined above.
 
  • #10
When is Internet 2 going to take hold. It seems to me it's just some strange organization. Is it just theory?

No it is definately coming soon. It was in DIscover magazine months ago. Probably last May or something. Not to mention the speed with which it can do things but the tasks that it can do!

They are using new technology combined with internet two which let's you look (or if you use special stuff like virtual reality you know the goggle things etc..) into things as small as a strand of DNA to a galacy. It was a great article I'll try to find it I saved almost all my discover magazines from last year
 
  • #11
Originally posted by Nicool003
No it is definately coming soon. It was in DIscover magazine months ago. Probably last May or something. Not to mention the speed with which it can do things but the tasks that it can do!

They are using new technology combined with internet two which let's you look (or if you use special stuff like virtual reality you know the goggle things etc..) into things as small as a strand of DNA to a galacy. It was a great article I'll try to find it I saved almost all my discover magazines from last year

agree, I2 won't come to the public anytime soon, main it is used for reasearch. honestly the world isn't worth it and isn't ready for the technology that in I2 station has in it.. 3D an everything, not that i have seen it. cough.
 
  • #12
yeah, i2 shouldn't be made readily public. most people would just abuse the speed so they could download more porn, which would just clog up the lines. it should stay purely for research use, linking universities and labs with no time delay. it could be useful with seti-like projects, letting more computers be used simultaneously for mass computations.
 

1. How fast was the new internet speed record?

The new internet speed record was 178 terabits per second (Tbps), which is more than double the previous record of 44.2 Tbps.

2. What technology was used to achieve this new record?

The record was achieved using a new type of fiber optic technology called "micro-comb" which combines and splits different colors of light to increase the amount of data that can be transmitted.

3. What impact will this new record have on internet speeds for consumers?

This new record is primarily for research purposes and will not have an immediate impact on consumer internet speeds. However, it may lead to advancements in fiber optic technology that could eventually result in faster internet speeds for consumers.

4. Who set the new internet speed record?

A team of researchers from Monash, Swinburne, and RMIT universities in Australia set the new internet speed record.

5. Is this the fastest internet speed possible?

No, this is not the fastest internet speed possible. Researchers are constantly working on new technologies and methods to increase internet speeds, so it is likely that even faster speeds will be achieved in the future.

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