China has taken a significant step in the race towards 6G technology by moving its research phase into real-world field testing. The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has allocated the 6GHz band for these trials, marking a shift from laboratory experimentation to practical deployment. This strategic move aligns with the country’s ambition to commercialize 6G networks by 2030.
The approval allows the IMT-2030 (6G) Promotion Group, led by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), to test performance, interference, and network capabilities using prototype and pre-commercial systems. Participants include industry giants like Huawei, ZTE, and Nokia. This initiative covers urban and industrial settings, enabling engineers to assess real-world challenges like signal penetration and equipment resilience.
Notably, industry experts emphasize the importance of the 6GHz band that offers broad bandwidth, long transmission distances, and low latency. Guang Yang, senior principal analyst at Omdia, stated, “It’s almost clear that the 6GHz band will be the core band for early 6G deployments in China.” This band could soon serve as a pivotal resource globally, providing a competitive edge for Chinese vendors.
The first phase, completed in 2025, focused on theoretical and core technology development. The current phase, extending to 2027, concentrates on prototype validation and technical solution testing. This forward-thinking approach mirrors the strategies China employed during the commercialization of 5G, providing insights and lessons for the new technology.
Despite rapid progress, the journey isn’t without challenges. There are concerns over the commercial viability of 6G, given that it is often perceived as being driven by high-tech competition rather than market demand. Additionally, integrating AI with radio access networks (RAN) remains uncertain, compounded by constraints in advanced semiconductor supply for Chinese vendors.
However, initiating early trials holds potential benefits. The process may facilitate a better balance between system features and chip capacities while exploring potential use cases. As 6G development advances, the outcomes of China’s trials could significantly influence global market readiness and technological leadership.
