Full Expansion of 10G Pilot Projects in 2026! All-Optical Network Retrofit Becomes a Core Dividend Track for System Integrators

Have you noticed that the term "all-optical network" appears more and more frequently in bidding documents recently?

In April 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released the results of 10G optical network pilot projects: 136 national projects passed acceptance, covering 52 10G residential communities, 38 10G factories and 46 10G industrial parks.

Shortly afterwards, on September 7, 2026, MIIT issued the 15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Information and Communications Industry. It clearly states: "Actively carry out pilot construction of 10G optical networks and gradually expand 10G network coverage."

The signal is crystal clear: 10G optical networks are moving from "pilots" to "large-scale deployment".

I. The 136 Pilot Projects Are Just the Prelude; The Real Market Lies Ahead

Many people assume that once these 136 pilots are accepted, the market opportunity is nearly over. That is incorrect.

The 136 pilots cover 86 cities, while China has nearly 300 prefecture-level cities, meaning the coverage rate is less than one-third. The 46 10G park pilots are merely a tiny fraction of tens of thousands of industrial parks nationwide.

The 15th Five-Year Plan sets the tone: gradually expand the coverage of 50G-PON networks, extending coverage from residential communities, factories and industrial parks to commercial buildings, campuses, hospitals and other scenarios. It also promotes Fiber to the Room (FTTR) deployment for new and renovated civil buildings in an orderly manner.

In other words, the 136 pilots are just proof-of-concept deployments. Large-scale replication and promotion are coming next. After the pilot phase, the industry shifts from "technical verification" to "mass rollout". Every expansion of coverage brings a massive volume of retrofit projects.

This represents the opportunity for system integrators.

II. Why Retrofit Projects Are Where Integrators Can Truly Make Profits

New-build projects are easier to deliver, yet they are usually secured by telecom operators and large system integrators. Small and midsize integrators struggle to compete for these bids.

Legacy retrofit projects are different. Old residential communities, hotels, hospitals and industrial parks share several common constraints: no large-scale demolition, no prolonged network outages, limited budgets and complex on-site conditions. Operators’ standardized solutions do not fit these scenarios, and big enterprises are reluctant to take on these tough, messy jobs.

Such projects ultimately fall to local system integrators.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, an estimated 115,000 urban old residential communities will start renovation. Among the 50,000 pre-planned old community renovation projects nationwide, over 60% involve low-voltage pipe network upgrades, directly driving roughly 300 billion RMB in related investment. Massive legacy copper cable networks in hospitals, schools, industrial parks and high-end hotels have also reached their renovation cycle.

Competition for new-build projects is getting fiercer with shrinking opportunities, while retrofit projects keep growing. This marks a fundamental shift in the market structure. All-optical infrastructure has become the core carrier for integrators and clients to capture policy dividends. Simply put, the system integration business follows projects — where projects are, revenue follows.

The profit logic of retrofit projects differs drastically from new construction. New-build tenders are price-driven, with the lowest bid winning. Retrofit projects hinge on delivery capability. For the same old residential community, a competitor quoting 800,000 RMB may fail to deliver because they lack site knowledge, online cutover experience and asset reuse expertise.

If you can handle work others cannot, you gain pricing power.

III. The Biggest Barrier to Retrofit Projects Is Not Technology, But Lack of Vendor Backing

Retrofit projects are indeed more challenging than new builds.

Pipeline records for old buildings may have been lost and require re-surveying; construction must proceed without network outages and requires online cutover; old and new systems need compatibility instead of full rip-and-replace. These tasks cannot be solved simply by running network cables.

Many integrators want to bid for retrofit projects yet feel uncertain: they cannot design solutions, conduct surveys or perform cutovers. Their biggest fear is investing months in project cultivation only to have the manufacturer poach the end client.

If the vendor only ships hardware and provides no implementation guidance, you cannot deliver the project. The picture changes when the vendor offers mature all-optical retrofit solutions, full-cycle technical support and project protection policies.

AINOPOL operates on a simple model: You handle front-end client work; we manage backend support.

• Ready-made retrofit solutions from the vendor: Validated solutions are available for old residential communities, hotels and campuses. Using scientific site surveys, pipeline cleaning, fiber core replacement and route reuse, all-optical upgrades can be implemented without large-scale civil demolition. You do not need to build solutions, draw topologies or calculate split ratios from scratch. AINOPOL’s pre-sales team assists with site surveys, solution drafting, topology design and ROI calculation.
• Vendor technical support as safety net: Retrofit projects demand minimal downtime, low investment and fast upgrades. Online cutover is technically challenging, with remote equipment commissioning support on standby. Devices are compatible with legacy systems to support phased replacement and smooth migration, without full network shutdown. You do not bear all cutover risks alone.
• Contractual client protection: Retrofit project cultivation often takes months. AINOPOL defines channel boundaries through 18 rigid red lines: no direct contracting with end customers, no mandatory stocking, and exclusive protection upon project registration. Core commitments are written into formal cooperation contracts to legally safeguard integrators’ interests.
• No capital pressure on inventory: Retrofit projects feature longer payment cycles, and integrators fear cash flow being locked up by inventory. We adopt purchase-on-demand procurement: orders are placed only when projects are confirmed, with no inventory without signed projects. Standard orders follow cash-on-delivery terms.

The 10G pilot projects have passed acceptance, and a new round of expansion is underway. The 15th Five-Year Plan has set clear targets, and coverage keeps expanding. Orders for all-optical retrofits are not something to wait and see — they are already on the way.

All-optical network renovation has become a core track for system integrators. Those who remain on the sidelines will soon find local retrofit projects awarded to competitors.

Now is not the time to hesitate; prepare your all-optical retrofit capabilities.

When retrofit projects are released in large volumes, you will be ready to take them on.

FAQ

Q: What comes after acceptance of the 136 10G pilot projects?
A: The next phase is large-scale replication and promotion. MIIT’s 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly states "gradually expand 10G network coverage". The new batch of pilots is extending from residential communities, factories and parks to commercial buildings, campuses and hospitals.

Q: Why are retrofit projects more suitable for small and midsize integrators?
A: New-build projects are usually taken by telecom operators and large integrators. Legacy renovation requires no large demolition, limited network downtime and handles complex site conditions. These projects end up with local system integrators.

Q: What is the market scale for all-optical retrofits?
A: An estimated 115,000 old residential communities will undergo renovation in the 15th Five-Year Plan period, over 60% requiring low-voltage pipe upgrades that drive around 300 billion RMB of investment. All-optical renovation is penetrating nearly every industry, from residential communities to parks, factories, hotels, hospitals and campuses.