On December 5, 2023, China hosted the Global 6G Development Conference, a joint effort of the Chinese IMT-2030 (6G) Promotion Group, the China Institute of Communications, and the Liangjiang New Area Administrative Committee of Chongqing Province. The Chinese IMT-2030 (6G) Promotion Group was established in 2019 to advance 6G technology, standards, and international cooperation, and to conduct 6G technological experiments.

During the conference, Ms. Wang Zhiqing, president of the IMT-2030 (6G) Promotion Group, was interviewed by China Central Television (CCTV) journalists about the recent progress and the vision for 6G. Below are the key takeaways from the interview:

  • The expected time of 6G commercialization is around 2030, with standardization work commencing in 2025.
  • The three main scenarios for 6G application include the integration of communication and sensing, integration of communication and Artificial Intelligence, and ubiquitous internet of things.
  • 6G connectivity will expand beyond human beings to include AI agents such as robots and the meta-universe.
  • The service objects of 6G will consist of societymanagement, social governance, and AI agents.
  • Base stations will be upgraded to provide support for communication and sensing. Examples include traffic sensing, which will facilitate traffic management and generate new business opportunities.
  • Current 6G development involves technological experiments and research in system architecture and technical solutions, laying the foundation for future advancements.

In addition to the above key takeaways, the Global 6G Development Conference showcased recent research achievements of the IMT-2030 (6G) Promotion Group. These mainly include the formulation of two white papers:

  1. White Paper on 6G Network Architecture: from a Systematic Perspective: This white paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the network architecture for 6G systems, offering insights into the design principles and network capabilities.
  2. White Paper on Design Principles and Typical Features of 6G Wireless Systems: This white paper proposed the functions and operational characteristics, as well as design principles of 6G wireless systems, on the basis of 6G deployment and network needs.

Furthermore, in 2023, China made significant contributions to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)’s Recommendation Framework for IMT-2030 (Global 6G Vision) by putting forward five types of 6G usage scenarios and fourteen capabilities, which have been incorporated into ITU’s framework. These contributions demonstrate China’s proactive approach towards 6G development, encompassing both technological advancements and standardization efforts.