China has unveiled an accelerated strategy to develop and commercialize 6G technology, positioning it as a major engine of economic growth over the next five years. At a test site in Nanjing, researchers at Purple Mountain Laboratories (PMLabs) demonstrated how 6G-enabled monitoring systems detected an unauthorized drone in just 0.1 seconds, showcasing the network’s advanced sensing and computing capabilities. PMLabs’ new cell-free 6G field testbed reportedly offers at least tenfold improvements in range, capacity and spectrum efficiency compared with 5G.
China has advanced the innovative development of 6G over recent years, with progress including systematic research on 6G system design and network architecture, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Thursday. #XinhuaNews pic.twitter.com/RyMLa2r13i
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) November 14, 2025
China has now completed the first phase of national 6G trials, producing more than 300 core technological breakthroughs, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The technology is expected to support applications such as remote surgery, high-accuracy indoor navigation, advanced assisted driving and large-scale intelligent device connectivity.
Beijing is also rapidly expanding its space-based 6G infrastructure. China Telecom and Tsinghua University recently used a medium-Earth-orbit satellite to verify high-speed 6G links over remote regions, achieving 140 Mbps peak downlink speeds. This satellite forms part of the growing Smart SkyNet constellation, aimed at delivering seamless global coverage by integrating MEO and LEO satellites.
China’s push includes breakthroughs such as an ultra-broadband AI-powered optoelectronic chip capable of operating across 0.5–115 GHz, published in Nature. With 40.3% of global 6G patents, China currently leads worldwide and aims to commercialize 6G by 2030, supported by the IMT-2030 Promotion Group and newly allocated 6 GHz spectrum.
