The fastest internet speed in the world has been clocked at an incredible 178 terabits per second (Tb/s) – fast enough to download the entire Netflix library in under a second. Engineers in the UK and Japan have developed new ways to modulate light before it’s beamed down optical fibers, allowing for much wider bandwidths than usual.

That new top speed is an insane feat. It’s 17,800 times faster than the current fastest internet connections available to consumers – 10 Gb/s in parts of places like Japan, the US and New Zealand. Even NASA can’t compete, with its 400 Gb/s ESnet.

One sad thing all Montanans share: Horrible broadband – We rank dead last — 50th in the nation — for broadband internet access.

Even in some of our largest communities, the investment in broadband infrastructure is either non-existent or so spotty that it is not even worth trying to make a call or send an email.

 

Broadband News and Updates – National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s National Broadband Availability Map Hits New Milestones – Why Isn’t Montana Participating?

With this addition, the NBAM is another step closer to creating a national platform that can help inform policymakers and expand Internet coverage across the United States.