Innovation, Industry Development, and International Application of New Type SRv6-Based Next-Generation Key Internet Technology

Introduction

China Mobile, together with MTN and Huawei, carried out a project in which they innovated and applied key Internet technologies based on new type SRv6 (G-SRv6) and cluster routers, completing the closed-loop innovation process of protocol innovation, device development, application architecture, and large-scale deployment. This pioneering effort drives the Internet to evolve toward its next generation while further bridging the digital divide by deploying innovative technology in the Belt and Road countries.

Made Breakthroughs in Protocols, Devices, and Architectures, Accelerating Upgrade to Next-Generation Internet

The original G-SRv6 technology greatly reduces the length of SRv6 headers and solves the key problems including high packet overhead, low forwarding efficiency, and high hardware requirements of native SRv6. G-SRv6 plays a pivotal role in accelerating the intelligent and deterministic evolution and upgrade of the Internet and has been accepted by the IETF as an international standard.

The project unveils the world's first cluster router with a maximum capacity of 512 Tbps. It fully supports IPv6 Enhanced technologies such as G-SRv6. With Al capabilities innovatively embedded into core routers, forwarding interfaces are able to automatically detect and handle common exceptions, effectively improving the reliability and security of Internet services.

This project is the first to develop an SDN controller that can directly manage devices from up to four different vendors. This effectively overcomes the difficulties in cross-vendor interoperability, integrated management, and new service rollout caused by the coexistence of multi-vendor devices, enabling centralized and efficient management of ultra-large-scale networks with G-SRv6 and cluster routers deployed.

Building upon the preceding standard breakthroughs and technological innovation, this project generates 289 patents for invention, 109 international standards and 119 high-level papers, accelerating the upgrade to next-generation Internet.

Promote Internet Innovation and Development and Enable Green Internet Industry, Bridging the Digital Divide

The G-SRv6-powered bearer networks of China Mobile and MTN carry the data traffic of nearly 1.08 billion mobile users, 300 million wired broadband users, and 30 million government and enterprise users in total, The networks have improved the service experience of nearly 20% of global Internet users and generated direct economic benefits of more than CNY10 billion.

In South Africa, MTN uses G-SRv6 to implement flexible path selection and intelligent load balancing for traffic, reducing the link usage from 77% to 43% and the packet loss rate to 1/3 of the original rate. This effectively relieves network congestion arising from weak infrastructure and frequent power-cuts and line interruptions in underdeveloped areas, further bridging the digital divide.

Leveraging G-SRv6, China Mobile provides network services with different SLA requirements (e.g., delay, packet loss, reliability, deterministic quality), enabling digital transformation across industries or example, China Mobile reduces the latency of services in China by 27% and that of services destined for Europe and North America by 32% and 18%, respectively.

Compared with native SRv6.G-SRv6 consumes 9% less bandwidth. The per-bit power consumption of the cluster router is as low as 0.22 W/G, which is at least three times lower than that of live-network devices. Deploying G-SRv6 and cluster outers saves about 110 million kWh of electricity each year and reduces global carbon emissions, equivalent to planting nearly one million trees.

Build World's Largest SRv6 Backbone Network and Drive Standardization and Development of Upstream and Downstream Industry Chains

China Mobile, together with MTN and Huawei, actively promotes the building of the G-SRv6 standards system. They obtain maximal support from global carriers, device vendors, and chip vendors through the setup of working groups such as srv6ops in the IETF jointly promoting the standardization of Internet technologies. In the past five years, this project has released 171 RFCs and contributed 402 new drafts, driving the Internet to evolve toward its next generation.

As the world's largest carrier contributor to IETF standards, China Mobile builds the world's largest SRv6 backbone network based on G-SRv6 and cluster routers. This backbone network covers the entire territory of China and provides an inter-provincial bandwidth of over 600 Tbps, effectively supporting the development of computing networks and "east-to-west computing resource transfer." 

This project drives the development of more than 1,000 enterprises in integrated circuit production, manufacturing, optoelectronics, and new materials, with a total output value of nearly CNY30 billion. It empowers device vendors that manufacture routers. According to Omdia statistics, Huawei's router sales revenue in 2023 is about CNY30 billion. It boosts the development of internet private line, VPN private line, and internet acceleration services. China Mobile and MTN collectively generate around CNY45 billion in annual revenue.