Three network series
DMIT classifies cloud server networks into three series: Tier 1, Premium and Eyeball. Each has a different positioning, use case and cost. This article breaks down the differences based on official descriptions to help you choose.
All line definitions follow the DMIT official site; this site does not publish measured latency or speed data.
Tier 1: cost-first global backbone
Official description: Tier 1 uses international backbone peering, with no China-specific routing enhancements.
Positioning: Cost-first global basic connectivity.
Use cases:
- Backups, archives (low routing requirements)
- Monitoring, CI/CD (needs stable global connectivity)
- VPN/Relay transit
- Cost-sensitive general compute
- Global services for non-China users
Plan characteristics: Tier 1 plans typically offer larger traffic allowances and higher port speeds (e.g. 10Gbps), with the lowest per-GB price of the three series. See Tier 1 plans.
Premium: experience-first optimised routes
Official description: Premium includes Tier 1, premium transit and China Telecom CN2 GIA.
Positioning: For users seeking lower congestion.
Use cases:
- E-commerce, cross-border apps (sensitive to China access experience)
- Live streaming
- Web services and APIs for China Mainland users
- Production environments needing stable routing
Plan characteristics: Premium plans typically have less traffic than equivalent Tier 1, but offer optimised routes. Priced in the middle of the three series. See Premium plans.
Eyeball: local peering and return-to-origin
Official description: Eyeball uses reasonable-effort China routing via CMIN2/CMI, focusing on local peering / return-to-origin optimised semantics. Only HKG offers this.
Positioning: A balance of reach and budget for China routing.
Use cases:
- Mixed China/global websites, APIs
- Remote development environments
- Moderate China traffic applications
- Users interested in local peering semantics
Plan characteristics: Eyeball plans are only available at HKG, priced higher than Tier 1. If you need the Eyeball line, this is the only choice. See Eyeball plans.
Comparison
| Series | Cost | China routing | Traffic | Available at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Lowest | No enhancement | Largest | LAX / HKG / TYO |
| Premium | Mid | CN2 GIA optimised | Medium | LAX / HKG / TYO |
| Eyeball | Higher | CMIN2/CMI | Smaller | HKG only |
How to choose
The core question is "where are your users":
- Users mainly overseas: Tier 1 is sufficient — lowest cost, most traffic.
- Users mainly in China, experience-first: Premium's CN2 GIA is a better fit.
- Mixed China/global, budget-limited: Eyeball at HKG offers a balanced option.
- Cost-sensitive backups/monitoring: Any datacenter's Tier 1 works.
These recommendations are based on official line semantics, not real testing. Before buying, find the test IP or Looking Glass on the DMIT site and test from your actual carrier.
Relationship with location
Network series and datacenter location together determine routing performance. The same series may perform differently at different datacenters:
- LAX Tier 1 offers 10Gbps ports and massive traffic, suited for North America/global
- HKG Eyeball is the only return-to-origin optimised choice
- TYO Premium is cheaper than HKG Premium
Full location comparison in Location Comparison. Decision framework in How to Choose a DMIT Plan.
Data checked 2026-08-18. Line definitions follow the DMIT official site.