Jan 6, 2025
China Unicom achieved a global milestone with the first single-wave 1.2Tbps commercial transmission validation. The ADC cable strengthens Asia-Pacific connectivity and sets a benchmark for international collaboration along the Belt and Road Initiative.
December 23, 2024 – With the successful completion of the Asia Direct Cable (ADC) project, co-built by China Unicom, the company has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in global optical communication. China Unicom has completed the world’s first live network validation of commercial single-wave 1.2Tbps international transmission on the Hong Kong Backhaul segment of the ADC subsea cable. The C-band transmission capacity exceeded 33Tbps, representing a 71.8% increase in spectral efficiency compared to 200Gbps transmission technology. This achievement marks a major innovation in next-generation communication infrastructure and cutting-edge optical technology.
Once the ADC landed in Hong Kong, it interconnected with China Unicom’s Tseung Kwan O Smart Cloud Data Center and Unicom Cloud’s international hubs, offering seamless integration. This enhances the user experience for global internet, financial, AI computation, and government enterprise customers while propelling advancements in networks, technology, and services.
The completion of ADC marks a significant milestone in the history of China Unicom’s subsea cable development. At 9,800 kilometers in length, ADC is the first high-performance subsea cable in years to connect Hong Kong (SAR, China) and Shantou (China) with key Asia-Pacific regions, including Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Key Highlights of the ADC Project:
Innovative Technology:
ADC employs advanced multi-fiber pair Open Cable technology, allowing flexible configuration of cutting-edge onshore transmission equipment. The design capacity of its 8-fiber pairs exceeds 160Tbps, greatly enhancing communication capacity and channel diversity among key regional information hubs.
Regional Connectivity:
ADC strengthens regional connections, offering faster, more resilient communication for major economies in the Asia-Pacific region.
Collaborative Development:
Built through a co-construction and co-sharing model, ADC reduced investment risks and improved project feasibility. It is a benchmark for multilateral collaboration in international subsea cable construction along the Belt and Road Initiative.
With ADC, China Unicom becomes the leading international operator in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of subsea cable route numbers and optimal transmission latency in key directions, solidifying its position as a leader in global network resilience.