China Launches 6G Pilot Program, Targeting 10-100x Performance Gains
Updated
Updated · VOI English · Jun 6
China Launches 6G Pilot Program, Targeting 10-100x Performance Gains
3 articles · Updated · VOI English · Jun 6
Summary
China's MIIT has launched a 6G innovation pilot linking ministries and provincial governments to prepare for future commercial deployment.
The program will develop 6G alongside AI-integrated networks, satellite internet and wireless sensing, while strengthening work on base stations, core network equipment, terminals, chips and operating systems.
Selected pilot areas will test local use cases including immersive communications, industrial manufacturing, low-altitude drone services, embodied AI and intelligent maritime operations.
MIIT said it will track 6G progress and adjust trial plans as needed through the IMT-2030 (6G) Promotion Group, which also received 6 GHz trial spectrum approval in early May.
China, already home to the world's largest 5G network, is positioning 6G as infrastructure spanning land, sea, air and space, with transmission speed, latency and reliability potentially improving 10 to 100 times.
As China races ahead with its state-funded 6G plan, can market-driven Western alliances catch up before the 2030 deadline?
With China aiming for a self-reliant 6G ecosystem, is a global tech split into incompatible standards now inevitable?
Will 6G’s power to merge communication and sensing create smarter cities or an era of unprecedented surveillance?
China's 6G Ambitions: Strategy, Technology, and the Global Race to Define Next-Generation Wireless by 2030
Overview
China is rapidly advancing its 6G ambitions by approving trial spectrum in the 6GHz band and organizing the IMT-2030 promotion group to lead nationwide technology tests. Through strong government coordination, pilot regions are building testing environments and sharing results, helping to create a robust ecosystem for 6G innovation. This collaborative approach aims to secure China’s leadership in the global race for next-generation communication technologies. By moving beyond 5G, China is not only accelerating research and development but also laying the foundation for transformative applications and a more connected, intelligent future.