Beijing: China has rolled out the world’s first commercial 10-Gigabit (10G) broadband network, marking a major milestone in next-generation internet technology. The network was launched in Sunan County, Hebei Province, as part of a joint initiative between state-owned China Unicom and tech giant Huawei.
The new system, which uses 50G Passive Optical Network (PON) technology, greatly enhances data transmission over existing fibre-optic cables, enabling speeds and performance previously unseen in commercial broadband.
Real-world tests revealed download speeds of up to 9,834 Megabits per second (Mbps), upload speeds of 1,008 Mbps, and latency as low as 3 milliseconds—offering a tenfold improvement over traditional 1G broadband.
The 10G broadband service opens up possibilities for high-bandwidth activities like ultra-HD 8K video streaming, virtual and augmented reality experiences, and seamless operation of smart homes.
For example, a 20GB file can now be downloaded in under 20 seconds.
This breakthrough positions China ahead of other nations in the race to roll out 10G networks.
While countries like South Korea and the UAE have introduced advanced broadband services, China’s 10G service is the first of its kind available for public use.
The Hebei County rollout is seen as a prototype for broader expansion, with plans for nationwide coverage dependent on infrastructure availability and consumer demand.
The 10G network is expected to benefit sectors such as telemedicine, remote education, precision agriculture, and industrial automation.
Huawei highlighted the importance of the 50G PON technology, which has allowed the deployment of 10G broadband without requiring the complete replacement of existing fibre systems.
The launch aligns with China’s wider digital strategy to expand broadband access, enhance cloud infrastructure, and prepare networks for the growing demands of smart devices and AI.
Details regarding pricing and subscription models for the new service were not disclosed.
