China is rolling out the first network based on Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) technology, a major component of the next-generation Internet.

Officials claim top transmission speeds of 2.5 to 10 gigabits per second, with a trial connecting schools in Beijing and Tianjin reaching 40 gigabits per second. Coverage is expected to expand to 100 universities in the near future.

A key advantage of IPv6 is that it can address the shortage of IP addresses.