The fibre optic cables laid on the sea bed between the US and UK could soon be able to carry data without error for close to 6,000km – a feat that is double the currently achieved distance and which could significantly boost data capacity.

A new signal-processing technique can correct errors in the data transmitted during the journey, researchers from the University College London, UK, said.

They also said that the new method will reduce the cost of the cables as it includes removing the need for signals to be electronically boosted during their journey.

Multiple signals passing through the same area can interact with each other and distort, meaning the data can contain errors.

The new method involves undoing interactions that occur between different channels as they travel next to each other in an optical cable. This decreases potential distortion of the data.

“Our method greatly improves the efficiency of transmission of data – almost doubling the transmission distances that can be achieved, with the potential to make significant savings over current state-of-the art commercial systems,” said Professor Polina Bayvel who worked on the research.

“One of the biggest global challenges we face is how to maintain communications with demand for the Internet booming – overcoming the capacity limits of optical fibres cables is a large part of solving that problem.”

Submarine communications cables link all of the world’s continents, but are best known for the transatlantic cables that link the US and UK.

The first versions of these communications cables were developed during the late 1800s and operated around the telegram.

More recently, the newer cables contribute to a main part of the internet infrastructure.

It was also revealed last year that the British spy agency, GCHQ, collects emails, Facebook posts and more from data sent through these cables – which have then been shared with the National Security Agency (NSA).

The research may help to meet the growing demand for data by internet users that is being placed upon the fibre infrastructure, a prospect that will be of great interest to users, internet service providers and the telecoms industry as a whole.

Study author Dr Robert Maher said: “By eliminating the interactions between the optical channels, we are able to double the distance signals can be transmitted error-free, from 3190km to 5890km, which is the largest increase ever reported for this system architecture.

“The challenge is to devise a technique to simultaneously capture a group of optical channels, known as a super-channel, with a single receiver.

“This allows us to undo the distortion by sending the data channels back on a virtual digital journey at the same time.”