China plans to upgrade its 5G network, accelerate 6G innovation

China will continue to accelerate the research, development, and innovation of 6G cellular technology and upgrade its 5G mobile network to reach 5G-A level in its new data infrastructure construction plan, a guidance released on Monday showed.

The country will build a highly reliable network with guaranteed latency, stable bandwidth, and good transmission quality and it will deploy an integrated space-earth satellite-based internet system, according to a guideline for the construction of national data infrastructure published by the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Data Administration and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Monday.

By 2029, the main structure of China's data infrastructure will be basically completed, featuring a data circulation and usage system, an ecosystem for data-related industries, as well as a mechanism for data infrastructure construction and operation, according to the guidance.

The national data infrastructure is a new type of infrastructure that supports data collection, aggregation, transmission, processing, circulation, utilization, operation, and security, while China is embarking on a new phase of data-centric digital infrastructure development, analysts said.

The guidance aims to define the future vision for data infrastructure development, guide the advancement of data infrastructure construction, enable data circulation, foster data application development, and establish a unified national data market. The guidance vows to solidify the foundation for developing the digital economy, and provide strong support for constructing "digital China", the document said.

According to the guidance, China will promote the 400G/800G high-bandwidth all-optical connection between the national hub node and the users, while encouraging telecom operators to enhance the efficiency of "public transmission arteries" to promote deep integration of the mobile networks.

China will enhance collaboration between large-scale wind and solar power bases and computing hub nodes to help transform green renewable energy into sustainable computing power. It will actively promote the consumption of green energy resources in data computing to help achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality.

While increasing the usage of green power, China will also seek to improve data analysis capability to reduce the level of computing power required for large language model calculations.

To realize the interconnection of data infrastructure, China will establish a unified national data "ledger," supporting orderly data circulation and shared application across different levels, regions, systems, departments, and business sectors, according to the document.

China will also support the creation of high-quality data centers in agriculture, industry, transportation, finance, natural resources, health, education, science and technology, civil aviation, meteorology, and other sectors.

The rapid development of the digital economy has created new and higher demand for the circulation and utilization of data. It urgently requires the better functioning of the government and an effective market to construct a national data infrastructure that balances efficiency and fairness, adapts to the realities of modern data usage, and unleashes the potential of data value, the three departments said.