November 16, 2023 - China has officially launched what is referred to as the most advanced internet backbone globally, with speeds reaching 1.2 terabytes per second (TB/s), equivalent to transferring data for 150 movies every second. This speed surpasses current networks by several times, bringing wide-ranging implications for areas such as enterprises, information transmission, stock trading, and more.
The backbone network is a collaboration between Huawei Technologies, China Mobile, Tsinghua University, and Cernet, an education and research network funded by the Chinese government. It spans 1,800 miles of fiber optic cables from Beijing to the south, providing support for big data transmission technologies like 5G and electric vehicles.
Although the network began testing and operation in the summer, its announcement comes two years ahead of expert predictions. The timing of this announcement coincides with the planned meeting between U.S. President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco on Wednesday, amidst months of ongoing tensions between the two nations. Xi Jinping stated that the development of this backbone network will make China a "cyber powerhouse" and "accelerate the development of core internet technologies."
However, as this network does not involve home internet speeds but rather internet infrastructure, it does not pose a direct threat to competitions involving artificial intelligence, semiconductors, or wireless network technologies. Still, it may provide foundational support for Chinese enterprises in need of high bandwidth.
Professor Wu Jianping, from the Department of Computer Science and Technology at Tsinghua University, stated in a press conference that the entire system, including software and hardware, is manufactured and independently controlled in China. He also referred to it as the most advanced network in the world.
This is not the first time a significant tech announcement has coincided with a U.S. visit. During a U.S. diplomatic visit to China, Huawei unveiled the highly anticipated Mate 60 Pro smartphone last summer, equipped with a groundbreaking Chinese-manufactured 5G chip. The U.S. government later stated that it was investigating how the company obtained the technology to manufacture the chip, following widespread measures taken by the U.S. to restrict China's access to foreign chip technology.
Overall, the launch of this remarkable internet backbone with high-speed capabilities signals a significant step for China in the future of internet technology infrastructure, providing more robust support for domestic enterprises and technological innovation.
