China launched a large-scale experimental network in Beijing on Tuesday to test the future of internet technology over the next five to 10 years.
When completed in 2023, the CENI facility will become a prototype “future internet” connecting to almost everything – from computers at home to cars on the street – for seamless communications in an AI-driven society. In recent years, a number of Chinese telecommunication companies, including Huawei Technologies Co., overtook their Western competitors in 5G and other cutting-edge technologies.
According to Tan Hang, a lead CENI scientist with China Unicom, construction of China’s experimental network began in 2019. He added that the CENI platform would support the testing of new internet technology “five to 10 years ahead of the industry”. The more things are connected to the internet, the greater damage a cyberattack could cause. New security protocols developed by Chinese researchers to locate and verify every device in the future network will be tested on the CENI network, among other cybersecurity innovations, Tan said.