China Launches World’s First Commercial 10G Broadband Network
China has activated what it describes as the world’s first commercial 10-Gigabit (10G) broadband network in Sunan County, Hebei Province. The project is a joint undertaking by China Unicom and Huawei.
The system is based on 50G Passive Optical Network (PON) technology, which boosts data transfer capacity over existing fiber-optic lines. Initial tests recorded peak download speeds of 9,834 Mbps, upload speeds of 1,008 Mbps, and latency as low as 3 milliseconds — significantly faster than typical 1G broadband services.
The network is designed to support large data transfers and bandwidth-heavy tasks like 8K video streaming, virtual reality environments, and cloud-based applications. For instance, a 20GB file can be downloaded in under 20 seconds.
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Authorities noted that this deployment would serve as a model for future expansions in other areas. Nationwide rollout will depend on technical readiness and user demand.
Although several countries — including South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar — have invested in next-generation broadband, China is the first to officially launch a 10G service for public use.
The high-speed network is expected to benefit sectors requiring stable, low-latency connections, such as distance learning, digital healthcare, remote agricultural operations, and industrial systems.
According to Huawei, adopting 50G PON technology enabled performance upgrades without needing to replace the existing infrastructure.
This move is part of China’s broader efforts to strengthen its digital infrastructure and meet rising demands from connected devices and data services.
