Overview

China Telecom Corporation Limited, a state-owned telecommunications provider, operates one of China’s largest content delivery networks, leveraging its extensive infrastructure to optimize content distribution. Founded in 2002, it serves major internet portals and enterprises, including Tencent QQ, Baidu, Sina, and Weibo. The CDN is integrated with China Telecom’s backbone networks, ChinaNet and CN2, to deliver low-latency services across China and globally. It caters to businesses requiring compliance with China’s strict internet regulations, such as ICP licensing, and supports a range of applications from web content to streaming media.

Network & Architecture

China Telecom CDN operates points of presence (PoPs) across 11 countries, with 15 cities including Sydney, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Amsterdam. Its domestic strength lies in partnerships with local ISPs like China Unicom and Zenlayer, ensuring robust connectivity within mainland China. The network supports over 1–5 Tbps in traffic capacity, with 788 IP ranges in China alone. Limitations include restricted operations in the U.S. due to FCC orders citing national security concerns, impacting its ability to serve American customers directly. Its global reach is strong in APAC but less comprehensive in EMEA and LATAM compared to providers like Cloudflare or Akamai.

Features

China Telecom CDN offers DDoS protection with mitigation capabilities, image optimization for faster web delivery, and support for video-on-demand (VOD) and live streaming. It supports HTTP/3 and TLS 1.3 for modern performance and security. The network includes tiered caching and instant purge capabilities for efficient content management. Real-time logs and an API-first approach enable monitoring and integration. Notable applications include Baidu, Weibo, and Windows Update.

Pricing Snapshot (2025-08-15)

Pricing details are not publicly disclosed and typically involve enterprise-level contracts tailored to customer needs. No pay-as-you-go (PAYG) or free-tier options are documented. Businesses should contact China Telecom directly for quotes, as pricing varies based on traffic volume and service requirements.

Integrations & DevEx

China Telecom CDN provides API-first access for configuration and management, with real-time logging for performance monitoring. Terraform or specific SDKs for CI/CD pipelines are not documented. Migration tools or support for transitioning from other CDNs are not publicly detailed, but partnerships with providers like Conversant suggest integration capabilities for international businesses.

When it fits / When it doesn’t

When it fits

  • Businesses needing a China-licensed CDN to comply with ICP regulations for mainland China operations.
  • Enterprises serving high-traffic portals or streaming services in APAC, leveraging China Telecom’s ISP partnerships.
  • Organizations requiring robust DDoS protection and image/video optimization for Asia-centric audiences.

When it doesn’t

  • Companies primarily targeting U.S. markets, due to FCC restrictions and operational bans.
  • Small businesses or startups seeking transparent PAYG pricing or free-tier options.
  • Users needing extensive global PoP coverage outside APAC, where competitors like Cloudflare excel.