China steps up efforts to promote superfast optical network pilot projects

China has been increasing efforts to promote its superfast 10-gigabit optical network pilot projects, bringing improved internet services to households and helping factories and industrial parks across the country work more efficiently.

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced the pilot projects in January. It said the 10-gigabit optical network represents the upgrade and evolution direction for the next-generation optical network, and the pilot projects will promote the network's evolution toward ultra-high speed, large capacity and intelligence and will be conducive to new industrialization.

Recently included in the pilot project, a residential area located in Fengtai District of Beijing saw its first household enjoy the superfast internet service on Friday.

With a 10-gigabit optical network, users can transfer a multi-gigabyte file in seconds and the quality and speed of internet service will not decline even when multiple users are holding meeting through video link or watching HD videos at the same time, making the enhanced services a perfect solution for families that have long screen time.

"We are living with our parents and our children and we use internet frequently. If the whole family surf the internet at the same time, the internet lags all the time. The grandparents like watching short videos, the children need to attend online classes and my husband and I love editing videos," said Wang Jing, a lucky customer and the first to enjoy the 10-gigabit optical network in the residential area.

To enjoy the superfast service, a special optical network terminal, which is bigger and has a 10g ethernet port, should be installed at household. Engineers said other requirements should also be met to ensure that customers can enjoy 10-gigabit optical network as fully as possible.

"To fully experience the 10-gigabit optical network, the users should install specialized routers and ethernet cables. They should also have 10g ethernet ports on their devices like computers. When they are using online services like the file hosting service, the service provider should not limit the upload or download speed. Only when all the above conditions are met can a user better experience the 10 gigabit speed," said Li Pengtao, an engineer at China Mobile who helped Wang's family to install the required equipment at their home.

Currently, the 10-gigabit optical network pilot projects have been implemented in 168 residential areas, factories, and industrial parks in 86 cities across China.

China steps up efforts to promote superfast optical network pilot projects

High in the Himalayas, Lhasa, the capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, has quietly become one of the country's most caffeinated cities, signaling a fresh business wave in this ancient cultural hub.

With more than 800 coffee shops now serving a population of under one million, the city hosts roughly one cafe for every 1,200 residents, giving it one of the highest cafe densities in the country.

But this is not simply a transplant of Western coffee culture. On Barkhor Street in Lhasa's old town, a historic Buddhist pilgrimage circuit, baristas are stirring centuries-old yak cheese into espresso -- a blend that mirrors the city's transformation from a spiritual center into a modern regional hub.

"We have got this great Xizang-style vibe. There are plenty of cafes in Lhasa, but we are special. Locals -- even 80-year-olds -- come here for Americanos. Plus, lots of tourists, including foreigners, come just to check us out," the owner of Senxia Coffee, a local hotspot, said, revealing the secret behind his cafe's pull.

That dedication to innovation and presenting Xizang's culture through every cup have earned the shop a loyal following.

"I make a trip here once a year. It is my fourth year coming. The taste never changes, but they always have a new special to try -- and it is always great!" said a tourist from the eastern municipality Tianjin.

"It's very unique, I like it a lot. It's good coffee and it's a very nice place. The courtyard here is different than a courtyard in Germany would be," a German tourist offered similar praise.

In 2025, Lhasa's GDP crossed the 100-billion-yuan (about 14.7 billion US dollars) mark creating fertile ground for entrepreneurs, who found coffee as a light-asset business easy to start with -- small footprint, fast setup, easy to brand.

Amid intense competitions, businesses loyal to their hometown and home culture wins, Senxia's owner said.

"There are tons of entrepreneurs here. Local college grads are coming back to start businesses, and friends from inland are moving here to do the same. So the competition is actually fierce. With so many cafes around, we feel pretty lucky to have made it, and we have definitely got our own unique vibe," he said.

Lahsa sees booming coffee scene infused with local culture

Lahsa sees booming coffee scene infused with local culture