Tech Desk 
Apr 25, 2025
An undated image. — Canva
China has officially launched the world’s first 10G internet network for public access, marking a big step in the future of high-speed connectivity.
The new system is based on advanced 50G Passive Optical Network (PON) technology, which makes it possible to transfer data more quickly with the same fiber-optic cables.
China's first 10G internet
China's 10G internet network saw maximum download speeds of 9,834 Mbps and upload speeds of 1,008 Mbps in initial testing. It achieved a super-low latency of as little as 3 milliseconds as well.
It thus makes the network almost a decade faster compared to existing 1G broadband networks that most parts of the world use currently.
With speeds this fast, users are able to accomplish heavy activities like streaming 8K videos, playing virtual reality games, or using cloud applications without any delays.
Interestingly, to have an idea how quick it is, downloading a 20GB file would only take less than 20 seconds on this network.
Huawei, the company behind this upgrade, claims that 50G PON allowed it to improve performance without modifying the current infrastructure. That means it's less expensive and more convenient to roll out in more locations.
Meanwhile, other nations like South Korea, the UAE, and Qatar are developing quicker internet; China became the first nation to officially turn on a public 10G service. They are going to spread the network depending on how prepared other regions are and how many need the faster speeds.
According to experts, this stable and quick internet can benefit distance learning, online healthcare, smart agriculture, and factory automation.
