China will formulate a specific 6G R&D action plan, and is encouraging local authorities to accelerate R&D activities around 6G-enabled industrial application
Chinese carrier China Unicom expects to complete technical research and launch early applications for future 6G systems by 2025, Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post reported.
The timeline was announced by China Unicom chairman and CEO Liu Liehong on the sidelines of the China Development Forum (CDF).
Liu said early 6G application scenarios will be introduced by 2025 in China, adding that the commercial launch of 6G in China is expected to start from 2030.
6G technologies have not yet been standardized, but research and development on the next generation of cellular technology is already underway around the world.
At the same event, Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong said in his speech that China was leading the pace of 6G research and development worldwide.
The country’s three telecom operators – China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom – have all been reported to be involved in early 6G research and development, as they also deploy 5G infrastructure and services across China.
The Chinese government plans to put major focus on 6G technologies, according to Chinese state newspaper Global Times. It reckons China has a competitive advantage in cellular because of its technology capability and application scenarios, said the report.
An official from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) recently said the country will formulate a specific 6G R&D action plan, and also encourage local authorities to accelerate R&D activities around 6G-enabled industrial applications. Research into “humanoid robots”, the metaverse, and quantum technology will also be accelerated, the report added.
Operators in China have been rapidly expanding 5G infrastructure at a national level and have developed several applications for verticals. China is forecasted to end this year with a total of 2.9 million 5G base stations, according to recent press reports.
Chinese mobile operators plan to add around 600,000 5G base stations this year, and expand the coverage of 5G services in rural areas and industrial parks. China currently has over 2.34 million 5G base stations.
Last year, China’s IMT-2030 (6G) Promotion Group, which promotes 6G R&D and international cooperation, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 6G with the 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G-IA), which represents European industry and research for next-generation networks and services.
Under the terms of the agreement, both organizations announced plans to further promote cooperation on 6G systems and networks.
The objective of the country’s 6G Promotion Group is to gather China’s industrial and academic research to promote 6G in a wide range of areas, including at a technological level and also in terms or economic and social impacts.
