Known as the "Godfather of Broadband", the "Father of Fiber Optics", and the "Father of Fiber Optic Communications", Kao was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics for "groundbreaking achievements concerning the transmission of light in fibers for optical communication".
Kao dikenal sebagai "Godfather of Broadband", "Bapak Serat Optik", dan "Bapak Komunikasi Serat Optik", Kao dianugerahi Nobel Fisika pada tahun 2009 karena "pencapaiannya yang luar biasa mengenai transmisi cahaya dalam serat untuk komunikasi optik".