The speeds, which are fast enough to download around 5,000 standard-definition Netflix films in a second, were achieved by using a new way of splitting up light channels to deliver more information inside and between data centres.
Instead of using a single channel, the team use multiple wavelengths to deliver information all on a single Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC).
PICs use photonics or light-based technology to deliver much higher bandwidth in a power-efficient manner than traditional chips.
By using what are known as optical combs, a single laser can be used to generate a broad spectrum of equally-spaced optical frequencies which enable higher capacity internet traffic on a single fibre without upgrading existing infrastructure.
It does this by eliminating 'guard-bands' or wasted chunks of bandwidth needed in traditional systems that prevent interference between data channels.
Frank Smyth, founder of Dublin-based Pilot Photonics, which...