The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced this week that implementation plans for the six major infrastructure networks outlined in the 15th Five-Year Plan are set to be released soon, covering water, next-generation power grid, computing, information and communication, urban underground pipeline, and logistics networks. The upcoming generation communication network is one of these six networks. These infrastructure initiatives aim to expand investment and stabilize growth while supporting industrial development, public services and national security.
An image picturing Guangzhou's nightscape, enhanced by 5G intelligent communications. (Photo: VCG)
China's 5G network has already delivered substantial economic returns. According to the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, five years of 5G commercialization have directly boosted total economic output by about 5.6 trillion yuan ($820 billion) and indirectly contributed an additional 14 trillion yuan. The country has built 4.958 million 5G base stations as of the end of March, achieving "gigabit connectivity in every county and 5G coverage in every township," with approximately two out of every three mobile phone users connected to 5G.
Technician installs and tests 5G signals at a base station construction site in Xiaodian Village, Youyang County, Chongqing, November 21, 2023. (Photo: VCG)
Beyond its current "dual-gigabit" framework, the network is advancing toward a "dual-10-gigabit" future. 5G-Advanced has already reached over 330 cities across the country. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China plans to add 500,000 new 5G-A base stations and one million high-speed optical network ports. Meanwhile, 6G technology is expected to enter commercial use around 2030, and by 2035, it could foster a trillion-yuan-level industry by integrating artificial intelligence, sensing systems and satellite communications.
Peng Jian, Director of the Policy and Law Institute at the China Electronics Industry Development Research Institute, noted that new infrastructure sectors such as terabit optical networks, 6G, computing hubs and satellite constellations all involve investment scales reaching hundreds of billions or even trillions of yuan, providing solid support for emerging industries including artificial intelligence, the low-altitude economy and the space economy.