Shanghai 10 Gb All-Optical City plans

Shanghai 10 Gb All-Optical City plans

Shanghai 10 Gb All-Optical City plans

China Telecom Shanghai aims to deliver citywide 10 Gb/s as part of an infrastructure upgrade focusing on network technologies such as fibre and 5G.


Shanghai plans to be world’s first 10 Gb All-Optical city by 2026

Shanghai is aiming to have 10 Gb Ethernet network infrastructure system in place by 2025. This is to include 100 10Gb optical network communities and 100 10Gb optical network office buildings throughout the city. To date, China Telecom Shanghai has built 10-Gb pilot zones across 16 administrative areas, including a demonstration district in Yangpu.

The upgrade will significantly enhance the city’s digital capabilities, support the integration of smart city applications, and reduce latency for emerging technologies, positioning Shanghai as a global leader in connectivity. This is closely related to Shanghai’s larger ambitions to establish itself as a global hub for innovation and technology. By 2026, the city also plans to integrate more advanced digital technologies like artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and IoT. This is expected to boost economic competitiveness as well as contribute to green initiatives, including a low-carbon economy and smart energy solutions. Several cities across China are expanding their fibre networks and advancing 5G, but Shanghai is aiming for a "dual gigabit" status, boosting both technologies simultaneously to realise 10 Gb optical and 5G-Advanced networks.

China has built the world's largest 5G network and fibre-optic broadband infrastructure, according to country’s state agencies, including the industry ministry, finance ministry and central bank. In 2023, the optical network featured over 64 m km of fibre, supporting speeds up to 1Gb/s for urban households. The proportion of fibre broadband users grew from less than 10% in 2012 to over 94% by 2021. On the 5G front, China has deployed some 1.6 m 5G base stations, representing approximately 70% of the world's total. By 2022, 5G networks were covering all cities and 97% of towns, with significant expansion into rural areas. The country also plans to have widespread 5G and fibre coverage in all villages by 2025, aiming to reduce the digital divide and support emerging technologies such as AI and IoT.

 

The "Broadband China" initiative has played a crucial role in expanding China's digital infrastructure and facilitating its rise as a major player in the global digital economy. Its main goals are to enhance internet penetration, improve the quality of network infrastructure, boost speeds and ensure urban and rural areas have equitable access to high-speed internet. 

By improving broadband infrastructure, the policy supports the growth of digital industries, e-commerce, telemedicine, and online education. It also aims to foster innovation by providing high-quality internet connectivity to support technologies such as AI, cloud computing, and big data.