China Releases Draft Guidelines for Advanced Data Infrastructure and 6G Development

China has unveiled draft guidelines aimed at enhancing the country’s data infrastructure, with a focus on upgrading its 5G network to the advanced 5G-A standard and promoting research and innovation in 6G technologies. The draft, released by the National Data Bureau, outlines comprehensive plans to drive technological progress and connectivity improvements across the nation.

Key Highlights of the Guidelines:

1. Advancing Network Technology:
   • The transition from 5G to 5G-A will deliver significant upgrades in speed, latency, connection capacity, and energy efficiency.
   • The 5G-A network achieves peak download speeds of 10 Gbps and upload speeds of 1 Gbps, alongside millisecond-level latency, making it ideal for the Internet of Things (IoT) and other high-demand applications.
   • Some districts in Beijing and Shanghai have already begun offering 5G-A services.
2. 6G Research and Innovation:
   • China is actively promoting the development of 6G technologies, aiming to maintain a leadership position in the global telecommunications race.
3. Balanced Infrastructure Deployment:
   • The guidelines call for the balanced establishment of international communication gateways across the eastern, central, and western regions.
   • Expansion of international submarine and land cable information channels is also prioritized.
4. Integrated Satellite Internet:
   • Plans include the development of a satellite internet system that seamlessly integrates space-based and ground-based facilities to boost connectivity.
5. Data Flow and Technological Advancements:
   • China aims to enable secure, large-scale, low-cost data transfer to support centralized and decentralized transactions.
   • Industries are encouraged to explore new technological infrastructures such as blockchain and privacy-preserving computing.
6. Green Computing and Resource Allocation:
   • The draft promotes the coordinated development of general-purpose, intelligent, and supercomputing resources.
   • Emphasis is placed on green technologies to reduce the environmental impact of data and computing operations.
7. Cost Optimization:
   • The guidelines propose optimizing network billing methods and reducing data transmission costs, particularly between the eastern and western regions.

Strategic Implications:

The push for 5G-A and 6G technologies reflects China’s ambition to solidify its position as a global leader in advanced telecommunications. By focusing on efficient data infrastructure, international connectivity, and green development, the country aims to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving digital economy while fostering innovation across sectors.

The draft guidelines are open for public consultation, highlighting China’s collaborative approach to shaping its data-driven future.