China's information and communications network is rapidly expanding, with the country accelerating the transition from 5G to 5G-Advanced (5G-A) and laying the groundwork for future 6G commercialization.

By the end of March, China had built 4.958 million 5G base stations, while the total length of its optical fiber network reached 74.99 million kilometers. Roughly two out of every three mobile phone users in China are now connected to 5G, making the country home to the world's largest and most technologically advanced communications network.

5G-A is considered an enhanced evolution of existing 5G networks. China's 5G-A network has already covered 330 cities nationwide. Compared with standard 5G, the upgraded technology significantly improves uplink capabilities, enabling much faster data uploads in addition to high-speed downloads.

The country is also moving beyond the current "dual-gigabit" era – referring to gigabit mobile and broadband speeds – toward a future "dual-10-gigabit" network infrastructure.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), China plans to build an additional 500,000 5G-A base stations and one million high-speed optical network ports. So far, 168 residential communities, factories and industrial parks across 86 cities have begun pilot programs for 10-gigabit optical networks.

Looking further ahead, 6G technology is expected to enter commercial use around 2030. By 2035, the emerging sector is projected to generate industries worth trillions of yuan, integrating technologies such as artificial intelligence, sensing systems and satellite communications into next-generation connectivity.

The expansion of communications infrastructure has already delivered major economic benefits. During the first five years of 5G commercialization, the technology directly contributed about 5.6 trillion yuan (around $824 billion) in economic output and indirectly generated roughly 14 trillion yuan.

Network upgrades are also boosting related industrial supply chains. In February, China's optical fiber exports reached 790 million yuan, up 126.8% year on year. Meanwhile, exports of optical modules continued to grow, rising by around 30% in the first quarter compared with the same period last year.

From nearly five million 5G base stations to the coming era of 6G, China's communications network is evolving into an ever-faster digital highway, forming the backbone of the country's digital economy.