Hong Kong Dedicated Server
11.12.2023
Hong Kong CN2 GIA, CN2 GT, and ordinary lines: What are the differences?
Introduction to the three lines
1. Ordinary line
The ordinary line is a common overseas network transmission line, carried by Telecom 163 backbone network. The provincial/outgoing/international backbone nodes of this type of line usually start with 202.97, and do not include CN2 nodes starting with 59.43 throughout the process. On the lines leading to foreign countries, ordinary lines often have congestion and high packet loss rates.
2. CN2
The full name of CN2 is China Telecom Next Carrier Network, abbreviated as CNCN, and the most common abbreviation is CN2. The CN2 line can be further divided into Hong Kong CN2 GIA line and CN2 GT.
- CN2 GIA: GIA stands for Global Internet Access. This is the fastest and lowest load line between mainland China and North America. In the provincial routing in the mainland, GIA lines will access CN2 nodes starting with 59.43, so the load is low, the quality is high, the speed is fast, but the price is relatively high.
- CN2 GT: GT is a product of Global Transit (i.e., GIS-Global Internet Service) in the Telecom CN2 product line. The CN2 GT line has its own independent line for international exports in China, but it still uses 163 for entry into the country. Its provincial/outgoing nodes start with 202.97 (this is the node of China Telecom’s 163 backbone network), and there are 2 to 4 CN2 nodes starting with 59.43 in the international backbone nodes.
Brief description of line differences
- CN2 GIA: If the local backbone network has CN2, it will directly access nodes starting with 59.43, and will not use nodes starting with 202.97.
- CN2 GT: The exit uses nodes starting with 59.43, but the domestic part still uses nodes starting with 202.97.
- Ordinary 163 line: All use nodes starting with 202.97.
Performance Comparison
- Regular Line: This is the most common and cheapest line. However, due to its lower performance and reliability, it may not be suitable for users who need high speed and stability. This type of line may experience congestion during peak hours, leading to a decrease in speed and an increase in packet loss.
- CN2 GT Line: The GT line has better performance than the regular line, especially during peak hours. It has its own dedicated international exit, which can avoid domestic congestion. However, it still uses the 163 exit when entering the country, which may affect its performance. Therefore, although the GT line performs better than the regular line, it may not be as good as the GIA line.
- CN2 GIA Line: The GIA line is the fastest and most stable line. It uses CN2 nodes throughout the route, avoiding the congestion issues that may occur with the regular and GT lines. However, the GIA line also has the highest price.
In general, the choice of various lines depends on your specific needs and the price you are willing to pay for it.