Editor's Note: This new series in China Daily celebrates various technologies, industries, infrastructure and capital goods projects for being the world's most impressive in their class. They are also a testament to the tremendous progress China has made in recent decades on the back of its reform and opening-up policy, as well as the nation's drive for high-quality development and a modern industrial system.

China's pioneering role in advancing telecom tech is borne out by the fact that the country boasts the world's largest 5G network, the world's largest gigabit optical network and the world's largest mobile internet of things network. What's more, it is also driving the process of standard-setting in 6G, the next-generation telecom tech now under development globally. This marks transformational progress for a country that, not so long ago, was considered a mere follower in the 3G era, then barely was able to catch up with leading countries in 4G.