China completes world's first 1,000-km hollow-core optical fiber bidirectional real-time transmission test

China has recently completed the world's first 1,000-kilometer hollow-core optical fiber bidirectional real-time transmission test, marking a new breakthrough in key technologies for next-generation communication networks.   The hollow-core optical fiber used in the test was wound on spools, each containing two to five kilometers of optical fiber. Over 300 such spools were assembled to establish a 1,000-kilometer transmission link for the experiment.   According to technicians involved, the test achieved, for the first time, synchronous bidirectional signal transmission of 64 Tb/s each over a 1,007.48-kilometer optical fiber link. This is equivalent to supporting the upload and download of 160 4K movies per second (calculated at 50 GB per movie). A single one-way transmission over 1,000 kilometers takes only 3.43 milliseconds, setting a new record for real-time transmission distance using hollow-core optical fiber.   Compared with the best-performing solid-core optical fibers currently available, this technology doubles transmission capacity and increases transmission distance by 60 percent. Compared with similar hollow-core optical fiber transmission tests, the transmission distance verified in this test has increased by 50-fold.   "Compared with traditional solid-core optical fiber, hollow-core optical fiber transmits signals through gas, which can reduce latency by 30 percent. The success of this experiment proves that hollow-core optical fiber can form long-distance, large-capacity, and low-latency transmission capabilities while reusing existing transmission equipment, reserving key technologies for the construction of computing power networks," said Huo Xiaoli, chief expert in Next-Generation Information and Communication at China Telecom, in Beijing.

China completes world's first 1,000-km hollow-core optical fiber bidirectional real-time transmission test

More than 4,000 overseas enterprises are showcasing their latest technologies and products at this year's China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, as the event continues to serve as a crucial link for global businesses to deepen their presence in the Chinese market.

Global tech giant AMD is focusing on key areas such as cloud computing power and AI agent hosts, helping to drive the latest AI technologies from technical demonstrations to large-scale applications.

"We have always considered China a very important market for AMD globally, and a key component of the global innovation ecosystem," said Pan Xiaoming, senior vice president of AMD and president of AMD Greater China.

"Our confidence comes from the continuous innovative vitality in China, its complete industrial ecosystem, and the wide range of adaptation scenarios," Pan added.

This year's CIIE features a record high of over 480 representative exhibits that are making their global, Asian or China debuts.

At Qualcomm's exhibition booth, a 6G terminal prototype is making its first public physical appearance at a major global exhibition, stepping out of the laboratory for the first time.

"As we look forward to the arrival of 6G and the AI era, our circle of friends is getting bigger," said Frank Meng, chairman of Qualcomm China.

"Qualcomm and our partners in China's mobile communications industry are in an organic community. I believe that for a very long period to come, we will continue to achieve win-win cooperation globally based on this foundation," Meng said.

Global firms double down on China, eying new opportunities at CIIE