China's advances in key 6G technological areas pave way for full commercialization around 2030

China's advances in key 6G technological areas are accelerating its efforts toward full commercialization of the next-generational wireless communication technology by 2030, which could further reshape connectivity and drive innovation across industries.

China has completed its first phase of its 6G technology trials, yielding over 300 advances in key technological areas, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced earlier this month.

At the Purple Mountain Laboratories in Nanjiang City, east China's Jiangsu Province, a seemingly simple ping-pong ball bounce test is offering a glimpse into the future of smart factories empowered by 6G technology.

A device keeps a ping-pong ball bouncing in a precisely controlled circular trajectory, as if guided by invisible strings. It is the world's first "bounded-latency deterministic wireless access demonstration system" for 6G.

The entire bouncing process relies on real-time wireless control from a 6G network, setting extremely high requirements for latency and stability.

In future industrial settings, 6G is expected to enable microsecond-level synchronization between machines, transforming factories into highly coordinated "organic systems."

"6G will, for the first time, allow wireless networks to penetrate the most critical core production links of industrial control, replacing the most crucial and precise wired control buses. This is not only a leap forward in wireless communication technology itself, but a huge transformation of the entire industrial production model, laying the foundation for truly 'unmanned factories'," said Liu Zening, a associate researcher with the Purple Mountain Laboratories.

Looking ahead, China plans to focus on 6G standards development and industrialization during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), with commercial rollout anticipated around 2030.

"By 2030, we will have the capability for large-scale 6G network deployment, offering more customized, immersive and intelligent application services across all aspects of individual users' daily lives, including clothing, food, housing, transportation and work. By around 2035, large-scale commercial deployment of 6G is anticipated, potentially fostering a trillion-yuan-scale 6G industry and application ecosystem," said Du Ying, deputy director of the Institute for Wireless and Mobile Communications, China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.

China's 6G technology trials are divided into three phases: the first phase is the key technology trial stage, which defines the main technical directions of 6G; the second phase is the technical solution trial stage, which will develop 6G prototypes targeting typical scenarios and performance metrics; and the third phase advances system networking trials, which will develop pre-commercial 6G equipment and conduct testing of key 6G products.

China's advances in key 6G technological areas pave way for full commercialization around 2030

International observers have commended China's steady development trajectory as a source of confidence and stability for the global economy, with experts from Russia and Mexico highlighting the strategic direction set out in the country's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).

Chinese lawmakers on Thursday approved the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan at the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, wrapping up this year's "two sessions", the country's annual political gatherings widely watched around the world.

Experts and officials shared their perspectives on China's policy direction, particularly its focus on technological innovation and systematic development.

"The entire population has benefited from China's economic achievements and successes. At present, preparations for the 15th Five-Year Plan are particularly noteworthy precisely because the country's leadership is striving to reach a new level in addressing social challenges. This five-year period will be extremely difficult in terms of the foreign policy environment. Global turbulence is increasing, and problems and challenges that may come from abroad must be compensated for by internal development. China has successfully done this so far, and is now doing it even more systematically and with greater precision," said Dmitry Novikov, first deputy chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of Russia's State Duma, on Tuesday.

Mexican economist Enrique Dussel, professor of economics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said China's remarkable progress in high-tech sectors was a result of the continuity and focus of its innovation policies.

"This is very present in the 'two sessions'. There is a coherent bet regarding high tech. So China does not copy and paste existing technologies, but is increasingly specializing in new disruptive technologies and innovations, from artificial intelligence to electric automobiles, autonomous transportation, nanotechnology and new technologies in which China is becoming the leader," he said.

"China has become the leader in a group of key sectors in global value chains. And very importantly, China today is pushing in these new high tech sectors through policies, such as new productive forces. So everything shows, we expect that China will continue with this path in the next Five-Year Plan," he said.

As global uncertainties mount, observers noted that China's systematic approach to development and its emphasis on shared progress offer valuable lessons and opportunities for cooperation, particularly for countries in the Global South seeking sustainable development pathways.

Int'l observers view China's 15th Five-Year Plan as source of global confidence