China this week launched what it claims to be the “fastest internet in the world”, with the capacity to transmit data at 1.2 Terabits per second (Tb/s), according to the companies involved in the project. The speed is about ten times higher than the rate offered by the most advanced networks at the moment.
Exceeding a global deadline that predicted the launch of ultra-high-speed internet service above 1 Tb/s only in 2025, the initiative is made up of a network with approximately 3 thousand km of optical fiber. The cabling connects the cities of Beijing, in the north of the country. To Guangzhou, in the south, passing through Wuhan, in the central part.
Tests in July activated this new line, affirming the high speed provided by the backbone network. Most current similar networks operate at “only” 100 Gb/s. However, the recent upgrade of a backbone in the United States made it possible to reach 400 Gb/s.
Officially launched by the Chinese government last Monday (13). The fastest internet in the world was developed through a partnership between Tsinghua University, China Mobile, Cernet Corporation, and Huawei Technologies. It is part of the China Future Internet Technology Infrastructure (FITI).
Hundreds of movies in one second
Much faster than currently available services. China’s new ultra-high-speed internet network is capable of optimizing online streaming, downloads, and many other tasks. With it, the user can download 150 movies in 4K in just one second, as explained by Huawei’s vice president, Wang Lei.
To take advantage of all the capacity offered. It is necessary to use an ultra-fast router developed by the project participants, which may limit the range of the service. The network is not expected to be available to residential consumers anytime soon; therefore, it will not be accessible.
In principle, the new feature will serve companies. Educational and research institutions and government bodies need increasingly faster data transfers. The areas of health and national security will also benefit, as will connected electric vehicles.
