China Demands All New Homes Install Fiber Optic Networks

redletterdave writes: "Only a small number of US cities can boast fiber optic connections, but in China, it’s either fiber or bust. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has now ordered all newly built residences to install fiber optic connections in any city or county “where a public fiber optic telecom network is available.” The new standards will take effect starting on April 1, 2013, and residents will be able to choose their own ISP with equal connections to services. The Chinese government reportedly hopes to have 40 million families connected to fiber networks by 2015, which is nearly one-third of the country's entire population."