China's operators have expanded FTTH coverage to nearly 90% of the residents of Chinese cities, according to statistics compiled by the China Academy of Telecommunication Research (CAICT).
As of the end of 1H16, FTTH covered 704 million residents, c114reported. In some provinces, including Tianjin and Jiangsu, coverage is close to 100%.
In rural areas, FTTH has been extended to over 80% of administrative villages, with over 50% on speeds above 12Mbps. Rural connections account for 31.6% of the nation's total FTTH subscriber base.
The total FTTH broadband subscriber base meanwhile grew to 62.18 million, and is on track to reach close to 100 million by the end of the year.
Total fixed broadband subscribers reached 273.7 million, which represents a penetration rate of 20.4%. Of these subscribers, around 80% are on speeds of 8Mbps or faster, and 47.7% are on 20Mbps or above.
China's incumbent operators have been investing heavily in fiber rollouts in urban areas to improve take-up and comply with the government's gigabit-level broadband ambitions.