China has just launched the world’s first commercial 10G broadband network, marking a major breakthrough in telecommunications. This network was activated in Xiong’an, a new town located approximately 110 kilometers from Beijing, designed to serve as a technology showcase and urban laboratory for future innovations.

Technical characteristics and innovations

The network is based on 50G-PON (Passive Optical Network) technology, one of the most advanced currently available for fixed fiber optic (FTTH) connections.

It achieves speeds close to 10 gigabits per second (up to 9834 Mbps download and 1008 Mbps upload), with extremely low latency of less than 3 milliseconds.

This performance allows, among other things:

• Downloading an 8K movie in a few seconds
• Playing cloud gaming without latency
• Controlling virtual reality applications
• Performing telemedicine in real time

A pilot project in a ghost town

Xiong’an, created in 2017, has attracted more than USD 100 billion in investments to become a green, smart, and ultra-connected city. Despite brand-new infrastructure, the city remains largely unoccupied. This makes it an ideal testing ground but also a symbol of the contrast between technological innovation and social reality.

For China, this project aims to demonstrate its ambition for global digital leadership and anticipate the era of hyper connected cities and services.

Applications and Outlook

The 10G network paves the way for numerous advanced uses: autonomous vehicle management, smart city control, telemedicine, Industry 4.0, and immersive experiences in augmented and virtual reality.

If the Xiong’an experiment proves successful, China plans to extend this model to other major cities, thus strengthening its national and international connectivity.

Technology Details

This is a very high-speed fixed network based on optical fiber, not a 10th generation (10G) mobile network. This distinguishes this project from developments in mobile telephony such as 5G or the future 6G.

The launch of the 10G network in Xiong’an positions China at the forefront of global digital infrastructure. While the technical feat is undeniable, the challenge remains to transform this true technological showcase into a real living urban ecosystem, capable of attracting residents and businesses to exploit the full potential of this unprecedented connectivity.