The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has recently announced the launch of nationwide pilot tests for 6G technology. Centering on four major priorities – technological research, industrial collaboration, application cultivation and project deployment, the initiative marks China’s 6G development shifting from theoretical research to practical network testing.
According to official plans, China aims to develop a fully independent and controllable complete 6G technology system by 2029, covering core components such as dedicated chips, network architectures and communication protocols. A comprehensive space-air-ground integrated network will be established to connect communication links across land, air and space, breaking the spatial limitations of traditional mobile communications.
The pilot program targets core technologies and industrial chain weaknesses. On the hardware front, it prioritizes the research of high-end optoelectronic chips, all-optical switching equipment and co-packaged optics modules. It also promotes the upgrading of optoelectronic interconnection technologies for intelligent computing centers. Optoelectronic integration solutions will address the transmission demands for ultra-high bandwidth and ultra-low latency, laying a solid hardware foundation for 6G high-speed communication. In terms of network architecture, 6G integrates cutting-edge technologies including artificial intelligence and satellite communication, enabling integrated communication and sensing as well as ubiquitous intelligent connectivity beyond conventional mobile services.
Compared with 5G, 6G achieves substantial improvements in transmission speed, connection capacity, latency and positioning accuracy. It not only supports consumer-side applications such as ultra-high-definition video and virtual reality, but also empowers a wide range of vertical sectors including intelligent manufacturing, telemedicine, smart transportation, emergency rescue and maritime communication. For remote mountainous areas, open oceans, polar regions and other areas inaccessible to terrestrial base stations, the satellite-enabled 6G network delivers seamless coverage and greatly expands the reach of communication services.
Industry insiders note that global competition for 6G is intensifying. Leveraging a complete communication industrial chain and a vast application market, China pursues independent Research and Development (R&D) alongside open cooperation. The launch of the trials will accelerate cooperation among enterprises, universities and research institutions across the industrial chain, advancing the implementation of technical standards, product iteration and commercial pilot applications.
At the current stage, efforts will focus on verifying key technologies and debugging prototype devices. The scope of trials and application scenarios will be gradually expanded as progress is made. With the continuous maturation of 6G technologies, mobile communication will step into a new era featuring universal connectivity, human-machine integration and cross-domain networking, injecting strong momentum into the high-quality development of the digital economy.