China claims to have developed the world’s fastest commercial internet network, with a speed of 1.2 terabits per second, allowing the transmission of 150 4K-resolution films in less than a second. This advancement is expected to quickly benefit various sectors, including educational and research institutions. Such a system enables universities, research laboratories, and other academic institutions to share and access massive amounts of data more rapidly.
Since 2013, China has been pursuing the ambitious project of the Future Internet Technological Infrastructure, known as “FITI.” It is a series of initiatives aligned with the country’s technological development strategy, aiming to advance various fields, including artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, network infrastructure, and more.
The Beijing-Wuhan-Guangzhou connection is a “subproject” of FITI, representing a new optical fiber infrastructure linking the three Chinese cities, officially launched this Monday. As part of this new connection project, China claims to have developed the world’s fastest internet network, with a maximum speed surpassing that of other countries by a significant margin.
The installation, spanning over 3000 kilometers, is the result of collaboration between several entities, as stated in a press release. Foremost among them are Huawei Technologies and China Mobile, one of the largest telecommunications operators in China. The project also involved Tsinghua University and CERNET (China Education and Research Network), the national education and research network of China.
Record-Breaking Data Transmission Capacity in a Functional Network
The recently established Chinese network boasts an astonishing data transmission capacity of 1.2 terabits per second, surpassing the capabilities of other nations’ fastest networks, such as the current 100 gigabits per second in the United States (although an experimental 400 gigabits per second network is on the verge of deployment). It’s noteworthy that China currently holds the record for the highest data transmission capacity in a functional (commercial or public) network, even though Japan holds the global record in an experimental setting, exceeding 300 terabytes per second.
The significance of this high-speed network extends beyond mere statistics. Not only does it outpace industry expectations, which foresaw 1-terabit-per-second networks emerging only by 2025, but it also positions China at the forefront of cutting-edge communication technology.
The Potential Impact on Various Sectors
This development in high-speed networking holds substantial implications for the progress of the country, particularly in facilitating ideal communication infrastructure for educational and research institutions. The system provides diverse establishments, including universities, research laboratories, and other academic institutions, with the ability to share and access massive amounts of data more rapidly and efficiently.
Moreover, the network’s capacity to handle large volumes of high-speed data is crucial for technological applications such as connected autonomous vehicles and 5G devices, benefiting from a significantly enhanced ground relay network. This new network infrastructure also opens avenues for the development and experimentation of novel technological concepts.
In conclusion, in the era of big data, a high-speed network of this magnitude ensures the more efficient management of massive datasets, promising far-reaching implications for various sectors, from academia to cutting-edge technological applications.