Between April 20 and 24, media outlets reported that China had launched 10G internet for the first time. According to the information provided in the articles, the new network’s download speed reaches 9,834 megabits per second, while the upload speed is 1,008 megabits per second, with a stable latency of just three microseconds. This information is also actively circulating on Facebook accounts.
Although the details about 10G internet shared in the media are accurate, the information has misled some readers, as Facebook users perceive it as an upgraded version of 5G, i.e., as the tenth generation of internet. In reality, however, 10G refers to a speed of 10 gigabits per second, not the tenth generation, and represents a completely different technology.
In recent days, multiple websites have reported that China has made 10G broadband internet available to residents in a city in Hebei province. The network is incredibly fast, with download speeds approaching 10 Gbps (9,834). The development of this technology was made possible through collaboration between major local companies Huawei and China Unicom. The articles explain that this became possible thanks to the use of a 50G Passive Optical Network (PON), which allows for the transmission of significantly larger volumes of data over existing fiber-optic infrastructure without the need for additional electronic amplifiers. Notably, this detail is omitted in some of the Facebook posts spreading the news. The dissemination of this information has caused confusion among readers, as some interpreted 10G to mean a new, upgraded version of 5G internet. In reality, they are entirely different technologies. 5G refers to the fifth generation of mobile internet, whereas in 10G, the “G” stands for gigabits, not generation, as its speed nearly reaches 10 Gbps. This distinction has been clarified in various media and technology websites. These articles state that the Chinese innovation actually pertains to cable internet, which is primarily based on fiber-optic technology, and that’s why the 50G Passive Optical Network was used. Therefore, this does not mean that 5G cellular networks and antennas will be replaced by a new tenth-generation technology.
