This week, a team of Chinese researchers from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications unveiled the world's first 6G field test network. According to the Chinese government news agency, Xinhua, the experimental network has shown that semantic communication can achieve the transmission capabilities of 6G using existing 4G infrastructure.
The purpose of the network is to provide the national research community with a more accessible platform for 6G testing, allowing more people to participate in 6G research.
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Initial results indicate that the network has improved capacity, coverage, and efficiency by ten times, although it is not clear what these improvements are being compared to. More details about the test network are currently limited. China has been focusing on taking an early lead in 6G for several years.
Recently, Jin Zhuanglong, Head of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, identified 6G as a key area of national focus, along with other emerging technologies like humanoid robotics, quantum computing, and brain-computer interfaces. The government has been providing significant support for 6G research, offering incentives to academia and the private sector through subsidies and tax breaks to accelerate technology development.
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A dedicated working group has also been established, consisting of various government departments, 37 universities, research institutes, and enterprises. Although the exact amount of funding for this 6G development is unclear, China's private sector, particularly Huawei, leads the global market in 6G patents, holding around 40% of the market total.
In May, China Mobile launched a satellite into low Earth orbit (LEO) to test 6G architecture, marking another world-first for China in the 6G space. However, it is uncertain whether China's efforts will result in a significant lead in 6G.
The standardization process for 6G has just begun, and commercialization is not expected until 2030 according to 3GPP and the ITU. Despite China’s lead in 6G research, it will take time before these developments translate into a commercial advantage on the global stage.
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