24/04/2025
China has officially launched the world’s first 10G broadband network in Xiong’an, a city built from scratch to be a hub for future tech—and now home to what may be the fastest internet speeds on the planet. Developed in collaboration with Huawei and China Unicom, the network uses 50G-PON technology to offer download speeds of up to 10 gigabytes per second. That’s fast enough to stream 8K video, support cloud gaming with near-zero lag, and power emerging applications like smart city infrastructure, AI, and AR/VR environments.
Xiong’an, located about 70 miles from Beijing, was envisioned as a model “smart city” with sustainability and efficiency at its core, even incorporating the “15-minute life circle” concept—where daily needs are accessible within a short walk. However, despite over $100 billion in development and state support, the city has often been labeled a “ghost town” due to a lack of private sector momentum and sparse residency.
China's rollout of 10G broadband not only highlights its ambitions in digital infrastructure but also raises questions about whether the futuristic vision for cities like Xiong’an will truly gain traction. As most of the world continues to deploy 5G, China appears to be leaping ahead—at least in terms of speed. The challenge now lies in matching that with real-world adoption.
