China has rolled out the world’s first commercial 10G broadband network in Sunan County, Hebei Province, taking the lead in next-generation fixed-line internet infrastructure.

The service, developed through a partnership between Huawei and China Unicom, leverages advanced 50G passive optical network (PON) technology to deliver download speeds of up to 9,834Mbps, upload speeds of 1,008Mbps and latency as low as three milliseconds, according to company statements.

The performance marks a significant step beyond existing gigabit services. At peak speeds, users can download a 20GB 4K film in less than 20 seconds, compared with several minutes on standard 1Gbps connections.

Huawei and China Unicom said the deployment demonstrates the commercial viability of 50G PON, widely seen as the next evolutionary stage of fibre-to-the-home broadband. The technology increases network capacity and efficiency by upgrading optical line terminals and customer premises equipment without replacing existing fibre infrastructure.

The network’s capabilities extend beyond consumer entertainment. Its high bandwidth and low latency are expected to support cloud computing, 8K video streaming, virtual and augmented reality applications, intelligent home systems and industrial automation. The companies said the infrastructure could also accelerate the development of telemedicine, distance education and smart agriculture, particularly in less densely populated areas.

Sunan County’s selection reflects Beijing’s push to narrow the digital divide between urban centres and rural regions. China has invested heavily in fibre broadband as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its digital economy, which policymakers have identified as a key driver of long-term growth.

With the commercial launch, China has overtaken countries such as the UAE and Qatar that have previously ranked among global leaders in broadband speeds. The move also highlights the prominent role of Huawei in advanced network technologies despite restrictions on its access to certain US-origin components.

China Unicom said the 10G rollout would provide a foundation for further upgrades as demand for high-capacity data services continues to expand.