China getting ready to launch the faster 6G mobile network technology this year

China seems to be speeding up trials for the sixth-generation mobile network and may even launch this faster 6G this year while the rest of the world still counts down to 2030 for its deployment.

Latest reports from Beijing reveal that Research and development of 6G have completed the first phase of technical trials, resulting in more than 300 key technology reserves.

On the other hand, the second phase of 6G technical trials has recently been launched.

This is according to Xie Cun, head of the bureau for information and communications development with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), as he told the media in Beijing.

“Going forward, the ministry will accelerate the advancement of 6G technology research and development, while proactively planning and fostering an application-oriented industrial ecosystem for 6G,” Xie said.

This sixth generation of mobile network technology is designed to deliver faster speeds, lower latency, and advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven connectivity beyond the current top-tier, 5G.

6G is supposed to be the successor to the current 5G which was deployed in 2019.

But 6G is currently under research and development, with worldwide commercial deployment expected in the early 2030s, but it seems China is already on the verge of rolling it out.

Emerging technologies such as AI, advanced communications and humanoid robots are rapidly forming industrial clusters in China and increasingly integrating into the real economy, reflecting Beijing’s shift in innovation-driven development from isolated breakthroughs to a more systematic industry approach.

At least, this is according to Hu Qimu, the deputy secretary-general of Forum 50 for Digital-Real Economies Integration, in China.

Meanwhile, stable policy expectations and sustained investment arrangements have provided long-term support for technological innovation and industrial upgrading, Hu said.

In north China’s Shanxi Province, hydrogen-powered shared bicycles have hit urban streets, while more than 15,000 hydrogen heavy-duty trucks operate on logistics routes.

Local authorities are also planning several cross-provincial hydrogen logistics corridors.

To sustain this growth, China will implement tiered nurturing for unicorn enterprises and specialized, sophisticated small and medium-sized enterprises in key sectors this year.

The country will also advance the development of future industry pilot zones based on local industrial strengths.

To date, some 54,000 innovative businesses nationwide have settled into the country’s 193 innovative industrial clusters.

As China moves into 2026, new quality productive forces are expected to gain further momentum, with technological innovation continuing to support domestic high-quality development, experts said.

At the same time, deeper openness and international cooperation are seen as enabling China to share the benefits of technological progress and industrial upgrading with international partners, contributing to global industrial development, supply chain stability and economic growth, Hu said.

In 2025, the value added of industries such as integrated circuits increased by 26.7 percent year-on-year, while that of electronic specialty materials rose by 23.9 percent.

Meanwhile, output of industrial robots grew by 28 percent, and sales of new energy passenger vehicles reached 16.49 million units, up 28.2 percent year-on-year, according to the MIIT data.

The year also marked a period of strong vitality and notable breakthroughs for China’s AI industry. 

According to estimates by relevant institutions, the number of AI enterprises in China ​had exceeded 6,000 in 2025, with the core industry’s scale expected to surpass 1.2 trillion yuan (US$170 billion), according to the MIIT, indicating strong potential ahead.