China on Friday claimed a breakthrough in developing the world's first IPV6 router for the next generation of Internet which will enhance the communist nation's competitiveness in the global hi-tech arena.

A panel of 11 Chinese scientists commissioned by the ministry of education said the router, which was developed by Professor Zhang Hongke with Beijing Communications University and his team, is the core part of wireless/mobile Internet Protocol network technology for the next generation of the Internet.

The scientists reached the conclusion after their appraisal of the latest product, Xinhua news agency reported.

The experts said Internet Protocol IPV6, based on 128-bit Internet address space, will help create almost unlimited usable IP address space resources to meet increasing demand. Current Internet Protocol is based on 32 bit Internet address space.

According to forecasts by the ministry of information industry, Internet subscribers will skyrocket to 300 million by 2007 in China.

The ballooning Internet users and growing application of intelligent electronic devices, such as home appliances and mobile phones, require huge amounts of IP address space, the scientists said.

The breakthrough could enable China to manufacture and commercialise the IPV6 wireless/mobile router and gain an edge in the next round of international competition for network equipment, thus producing far-reaching impact on the country's competitiveness in the field and national information security.