Chinese researchers have pioneered a revolutionary advancement in optical communications and 6G wireless technology, achieving unprecedented data transmission speeds through a unified fiber-wireless system. Published in Nature on February 18, 2026, the breakthrough addresses critical challenges in next-generation network infrastructure.
A collaborative team from Peking University, Pengcheng Laboratory, ShanghaiTech University, and the National Optoelectronics Innovation Center developed ultra-wideband photonic devices capable of operating beyond 250 GHz. Their system achieved single-channel rates of 512 Gbps for fiber and 400 Gbps for wireless transmission – both global records – while bridging a decades-old “bandwidth gap” between the two technologies.
“This integration enables dual-mode transmission with enhanced interference resistance,” explained Professor Wang Xingjun, the study)s corresponding author. During simulations of 6G network demands, the system successfully transmitted 86 channels of 8K video simultaneously, delivering over ten times the bandwidth of current 5G networks.
The innovation holds particular promise for AI data centers and 6G base stations, where low-latency, high-capacity communication is critical. Analysts suggest this development could accelerate global 6G standardization efforts, with China positioning itself as a key contributor to next-gen network architecture.
