Researchers achieve 1 Tbps secure data transmission over 1,200 km

Why it matters: Chinese researchers hit a significant data-transfer milestone by transmitting data at one terabit per second over 1,200 kilometers of optical fiber, with encryption embedded directly into the light signal. This approach eliminates any added layers of software-based security – something the global telecom industry has struggled to achieve for years.

The breakthrough – developed by Professor Lilin Yi at Shanghai Jiao Tong University – is called the Integrated Encryption and Communication (IEAC) system. Unlike traditional methods such as TLS or IPsec, which apply software-level security while leaving the optical signal exposed, IEAC redefines how security operates within fiber networks. Rather than securing the message, it encrypts the signal itself – the light – making eavesdropping virtually impossible.

It achieves this using an optimized artificial intelligence technique called geometric constellation shaping (GCS). High-speed random number generators create a unique light pattern for each data burst. The system treats every transmission like a ...