A record-breaking petabit milestone contrasts sharply with Southeast Asia’s rising broadband costs
Japan has shattered the world internet speed record with a 1.02 petabit-per-second breakthrough—while Indonesia continues to rank among the top 20 most expensive countries for broadband. The contrast reveals a widening global gap between next-generation connectivity and costly everyday access.
Japan’s Petabit Leap Forward
Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) achieved a historic 1.02 petabit-per-second optical fiber transmission in late 2025. That equals more than 1,000,000 Gbps, enough to download the entire Netflix catalogue in less than one second under lab conditions. The experiment used over 800 light channels, a four-core fiber design, and wavelength-division multiplexing—effectively turning a single cable into hundreds of parallel highways of light.
Why This Speed Matters
Petabit-class backbones could enable real-time 8K streaming, cloud gaming with zero latency, remote robotic surgery, and industrial automation at unprecedented precision. Japan’s telecom partners, including NTT, are already planning “terabit Internet” infrastructures, with early deployment expected in data centers and subsea links before eventually reaching consumers.
Global Prices Tell a Different Story
While Japan pushes boundaries, a We Are Social report shows massive disparities in global internet affordability. The United Arab Emirates tops the list at US$4.31 per Mbps, followed by Ghana (US$2.58) and Switzerland (US$2.07). Infrastructure complexity, limited competition, and regulatory hurdles drive these high costs.
Indonesia: Among the World’s Most Expensive
Indonesia ranks 12th most expensive, with broadband costing US$0.41 per Mbps—far above global averages and higher than Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the UK. At roughly IDR 6,808 per Mbps, Indonesian users pay significantly more than consumers in countries with faster, more stable connectivity. This remains a major barrier to digital inclusion, especially as remote work, AI tools, and cloud-based education continue to evolve.
Where the Cheapest Internet Thrives
In stark contrast, broadband in Romania (US$0.01), Russia (US$0.02), and Poland (US$0.03) is among the world’s most affordable. Strong market competition and government-backed digital infrastructure help keep prices low. Asia also performs well, with Vietnam, China, and South Korea offering high-speed connections at around US$0.05 per Mbps.
The Technology–Affordability Gap
Japan’s record highlights a deeper geopolitical race: countries competing for technological leadership in AI, defense, digital trade, and automation. But for nations where broadband remains expensive, such as Indonesia and parts of Africa, the challenge is not speed—it is access. Until last-mile infrastructure, competition, and regulatory frameworks improve, next-generation breakthroughs will remain out of reach for many households.
Japan’s petabit milestone signals a future where data moves instantly, powering new industries and smarter services. Yet the high broadband prices in Indonesia—and relatively moderate rates in Singapore—show the region’s need for stronger competition, better infrastructure, and clearer digital policy. As transformative technologies advance, Southeast Asia’s ability to keep pace will depend not only on innovation but on ensuring affordable, equitable access for all.
Sources:
[1] Japan breaks the world internet speed record: able to download all of Netflix in one second
[2] Indonesia is among20 countries with most expensive internet rate
[3] TechnologyRanked: Internet Costs by Country in 2025
Keywords: Global Internet Cost Divide
