Chinese Mainland Kicks Off Phase Two of 6G Trials

On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the Chinese mainland's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced the launch of the second phase of its 6G technical trials, following the successful completion of the first phase, which yielded a reserve of over 300 key 6G technologies.

The MIIT reports that the overall volume of telecom services grew by 9.1 percent year on year in 2025, with the industrial and information sectors contributing more than 40 percent to the region's economic growth, according to Zhang Yunming, vice minister of the MIIT.

As of mid-2025, the Chinese mainland held a leading position in global 6G patent applications, accounting for roughly 40.3 percent of the total, according to the Internet Development Report 2025, released by a national research institute affiliated with the Cyberspace Administration of China.

Compared to 5G, 6G deeply integrates sensing, computing and artificial intelligence, aiming to extend wireless coverage from ground networks to full air, space, land and sea connectivity.

The region has already built the world's largest information infrastructure, with over 4.8 million 5G base stations and more than 1.2 billion users, said Xie Cun, spokesperson for the MIIT.

The “5G + Industrial Internet” initiative has launched over 23,000 projects, driving applications such as unmanned mines, smart ports and lights-out factories—automated facilities that operate without human intervention, even in the dark.

These advances are boosting productivity: a leading home appliance maker saw a 275 percent jump in per-capita output after deploying its self-developed 5G + AI industrial vision inspection system, according to Zhang.

As the Chinese mainland dives into phase two of 6G trials, the race to define next-generation connectivity is underway, with implications for smart factories, autonomous vehicles and immersive digital experiences. Industry observers will be watching closely as these trials scale up and move closer to commercialization.

Reference(s):

China enters second phase of 6G trials, after 300 key tech milestones

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