China is accelerating the development of 6G technology, with research moving from laboratory studies toward field trials and industrial applications.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology approved the IMT-2030 (6G) Promotion Group in May to conduct 6G trials in the 6GHz band. A joint provincial-ministerial initiative was also launched in June to coordinate 6G pilot programs, while Jiangsu and Hubei provinces introduced measures to promote 6G innovation.

China’s 6G trials are being conducted in three stages: key technology testing, technical solution trials, and system networking trials. The first stage has been completed, while the second is now underway. Commercial 6G services are expected to begin around 2030.

The development of 6G is also being designed to build on existing 4G and 5G infrastructure rather than replace it entirely. Researchers are exploring technologies such as semantic communications to achieve higher performance using existing network resources.

China expanded its 5G network by 588,000 base stations in 2025, bringing the national total to nearly 4.84 million, while 5G-Advanced coverage has reached more than 330 cities.

As 6G advances, the technology is expected to support faster communications, smarter applications, and more accessible digital services, while helping bridge digital divides and create new opportunities across society.

Source: People’s Daily