6G, the sixth generation of mobile communications, is expected to become a major technological foundation for the next stage of the digital economy. Unlike 5G, which primarily focuses on high-speed connectivity, 6G aims to integrate communications with artificial intelligence, sensing, and computing.
It is expected to provide faster transmission speeds, lower latency, more extensive connectivity, and more intelligent network services. Key technologies include integrated sensing and communication, AI-native networks, and space-air-ground integrated networks.
These capabilities could support emerging applications such as autonomous driving, industrial robotics, the low-altitude economy, immersive communications, and smart manufacturing. As international research moves towards standardisation and commercial deployment around 2030, China is actively strengthening its position in 6G research and industrial development.
China began exploring 6G relatively early and has gradually established a national research framework involving government departments, universities, research institutions, telecommunications operators, and technology companies. In 2019, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology supported the establishment of the IMT-2030 (6G) Promotion Group, providing a platform for coordinating research, technical experiments, and international cooperation.
Since then, China has continued to increase investment in 6G-related technologies. Major telecommunications operators, including China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom, have conducted research into network architecture, wireless transmission, satellite communications, and integrated sensing and communication. Leading technology companies such as Huawei and ZTE, together with emerging smartphone and electronics manufacturers, have also participated in developing key technologies and potential applications.
China has made considerable progress in building its 6G technology reserves. More than 300 key technologies have been accumulated, covering areas such as wireless transmission, advanced antennas, AI-integrated networks, terahertz communications, and space-air-ground integration. The country has completed its first phase of 6G technical trials and moved into a second phase focused on further technological verification and system integration.
These trials are important because 6G development involves more than improving individual components. It requires the coordination of communication equipment, network architecture, computing resources, intelligent algorithms, and terminal devices. Through experimental platforms and prototype systems, Chinese research institutions and companies are gradually testing how these technologies can operate together in practical environments.
One particularly important direction of China’s 6G research is the integration of communication and artificial intelligence. Future networks are expected to use AI not only to provide services to users but also to manage and optimise their own operations. AI could help networks predict traffic demand, allocate spectrum resources, identify interference, and automatically adjust network configurations.
At the same time, 6G networks could provide the connectivity and computing resources needed by AI applications. China has been exploring concepts such as AI-native networks, network intelligence agents, and AI-as-a-Service. These developments could allow intelligent network systems to make decisions and coordinate resources more autonomously, while supporting applications that require real-time processing. However, challenges remain in ensuring network reliability, controlling computing and energy consumption, and coordinating AI functions across different network layers.
Another major focus is integrated sensing and communication, which allows wireless networks to perform environmental sensing while transmitting information. Chinese research institutions have been developing experimental platforms to investigate how wireless signals can be used to detect the position, movement, and characteristics of surrounding objects. The Purple Mountain Laboratories has conducted research and system validation in integrated communication, sensing, computing, and intelligence, while exploring wide-area network coverage and low-altitude applications.
These technologies could be particularly valuable for drone management, intelligent transportation, industrial monitoring, and urban governance. For example, future communication infrastructure could provide connectivity for drones while simultaneously detecting their positions and movements, helping to improve the safety and efficiency of low-altitude operations.
Chinese universities have also achieved notable breakthroughs in 6G-related fundamental technologies. A research team from Peking University and City University of Hong Kong developed an ultra-wideband optoelectronic integrated system capable of supporting high-speed wireless transmission across a frequency range from 0.5 GHz to 115 GHz. The system enables flexible frequency tuning and switching, allowing communication signals to avoid interference by moving between different frequency bands.
Published in Nature, this research offers a potential solution for future broadband wireless communication systems. With further development and integration with AI algorithms, such technologies could support intelligent spectrum management, real-time environmental sensing, and more reliable wireless transmission. This achievement also demonstrates the importance of combining fundamental scientific research with engineering innovation in China’s 6G development.
Spectrum resources are another important part of China’s 6G strategy. In 2023, China allocated the 6425–7125 MHz frequency range for International Mobile Telecommunications, providing 700 MHz of continuous spectrum for mobile communication development. The 6 GHz band offers a useful balance between coverage and transmission capacity, making it a potential foundation for future 6G networks.
In May 2026, MIIT granted the IMT-2030 (6G) Promotion Group permission to use the 6 GHz band for 6G trials. This provides an important opportunity to test network coverage, signal propagation, interference management, and system performance under real-world conditions. It also creates a foundation for the development of future communication equipment, antennas, chips, and terminal devices.
China’s telecommunications operators have also been actively developing 6G prototypes and experimental networks. China Mobile has explored cloud-native 6G architecture and developed prototype systems for technical validation. Its research has included high-speed wireless transmission and experimental network testing. China Unicom has focused on integrated communication, sensing, computing, and intelligence, as well as space-air-ground integration, green networking, and dynamic spectrum sharing.
It has also proposed a “3+6+X” vision for future 6G services, covering new lifestyles, new production models, and a new digital world, alongside six major application scenarios and a wider range of potential services. These initiatives show that Chinese operators are not only investigating network technologies but also considering how 6G could create new business models and support the transformation of different industries.
Beyond research laboratories and telecommunications companies, China is increasingly connecting 6G development with national industrial priorities. In June 2026, MIIT launched a special provincial-level collaborative pilot programme for 6G innovation and development. The programme encourages cooperation between local governments, research institutions, operators, and industrial enterprises, with an emphasis on technological innovation, application testing, and industrial ecosystem development.
Priority areas include communication and AI integration, satellite internet, wireless sensing, intelligent terminals, and key network equipment. By using different regions’ industrial strengths and application scenarios, China aims to accelerate the transition from laboratory research to practical technology development and commercial preparation.
The industrial opportunities created by 6G are expected to extend far beyond the telecommunications sector. One of the most promising areas is embodied intelligence, particularly humanoid robots and industrial robots. As robots become more capable of interacting with physical environments, they will require reliable real-time communication, environmental sensing, and substantial computing resources.
6G could allow robots to connect with edge-computing platforms, coordinate tasks with other machines, and receive real-time instructions. This may create new demand for communication modules, sensors, AI chips, edge-computing equipment, and intelligent control systems. China’s existing strengths in robotics manufacturing, electronics, and AI development could provide a foundation for integrating these industries with future 6G networks.
The low-altitude economy is another important area in which China could develop distinctive 6G applications. Drone delivery, aerial inspections, emergency rescue, and urban air mobility all require reliable connectivity, accurate positioning, and real-time monitoring. Through the integration of terrestrial networks, satellites, and aerial communication platforms, 6G could help provide more comprehensive coverage and coordinated management of low-altitude aircraft.
This could support the development of intelligent low-altitude transportation systems and create opportunities in drone manufacturing, satellite communication equipment, positioning technologies, and airspace management platforms.
In industrial manufacturing, 6G could support the development of more intelligent and flexible production systems. Future factories will increasingly depend on networks connecting robots, sensors, production equipment, and automated control systems. By combining high-reliability communication with sensing and AI, 6G could enable real-time equipment monitoring, remote operation, predictive maintenance, and coordinated production scheduling. Industries such as automotive manufacturing, mining, energy, ports, and logistics could benefit from these capabilities. The integration of 6G with digital twins could also allow enterprises to monitor and simulate physical production processes in virtual environments, improving operational efficiency and resource allocation.
The development of 6G will also create opportunities in China’s high-end manufacturing and core technology industries. As communication systems move towards higher frequencies and wider bandwidths, demand for advanced radio-frequency chips, high-speed converters, antenna systems, optoelectronic devices, advanced materials, and precision testing instruments will increase. Satellite communications and space-air-ground integration could further stimulate development in commercial aerospace, low-Earth-orbit satellites, and specialised communication terminals. Strengthening these supporting industries will be essential if China is to build a more complete and competitive 6G industrial ecosystem.
Despite these advances, several challenges remain. Some fundamental technologies, including terahertz communications, advanced antenna systems, low-power chips, and AI-native network architecture, still require further research and engineering validation. The transition from experimental prototypes to large-scale commercial systems will also involve substantial investment in infrastructure, equipment, and industrial coordination. In addition, network security, data privacy, energy efficiency, and spectrum interference will become increasingly important as 6G networks take on more responsibilities in sensing, computing, and industrial control.
For China, the next stage of 6G development should focus on strengthening fundamental research while accelerating the translation of scientific achievements into practical technologies. Greater collaboration is needed among universities, research institutions, telecommunications operators, equipment manufacturers, and downstream industries. Rather than pursuing technological breakthroughs in isolation, China should develop integrated experimental platforms and use real-world scenarios to test the performance and commercial value of new technologies.
Applications in intelligent manufacturing, robotics, low-altitude transportation, and satellite communications can provide practical environments for identifying technical requirements and refining network solutions. At the same time, continued participation in international standardisation through organisations such as the ITU and 3GPP will be important for ensuring global compatibility and expanding opportunities for Chinese companies in international markets.
As international 6G standardisation advances towards 2030, the coming years will be critical for China to strengthen its core technologies, improve industrial coordination, and identify applications with genuine market demand.
More importantly, 6G could become a bridge connecting China’s telecommunications industry with artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced manufacturing, commercial aerospace, and the wider digital economy, creating new opportunities for technological innovation and long-term industrial growth.
Source: china cn, xinhuanet, sasac, cas, szzg, g6gconference, scmp
