Not even 2 years since its rollout, 5G internet in China has exceeded 1.2 billion users according to China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile — underscoring China’s rapid digitization and demand for fast mobile networks.
While China enjoys massive 5G adoption, Beijing has already built its first 5G Advanced (5G-A) experimental base station, paving the way for 6G in the near future. China plans to have. 2.9 million 5G base stations by the end of this year, as it transitions towards 5G-Advanced and 6G networks.
6G is expected to deliver data speeds and latency up to 100 times faster than 5G, enabling revolutionary applications. China’s ambitions towards 6G demonstrates the country’s goal of being at the forefront of next-generation mobile technologies.
The speed at which China has scaled 5G usage to over a billion users in a short span and is now looking towards 6G showcases the country’s priority to digitally transform through connectivity. Chinese telecom companies and technology firms stand to gain significantly if China continues to lead the transition to 6G and beyond.
The transition to 6G will have a significant impact on the global telecommunications industry in the following ways:
Increased Investment:
Telecom companies and technology firms will need to invest heavily in 6G research, development and infrastructure rollout. This will require billions of dollars in capital expenditure.
New Applications and Devices:
6G will enable a wide range of new applications and use cases that are not possible with current networks. This will drive the development of new devices and solutions tailored for 6G.
Network Transformation:
Telecom operators will have to upgrade and transform their existing networks to be 6G compatible. This will involve replacing major components and redesigning network architectures.
Faster Speeds and Lower Latency:
6G networks are expected to deliver speeds up to 100 times faster than 5G and latency down to microseconds. This will change the way we use the internet and mobile applications.
Greater Complexity:
Managing 6G networks will be more complex due to the massive increase in data traffic, number of connected devices and dependency on new technologies like AI and edge computing.
Supply Chain Changes:
Suppliers of networking equipment, chips and components will have to adapt to the new needs of 6G networks. This may see some consolidation and changes in the supply chain landscape.
Global Competition:
The race to develop and deploy 6G first will intensify competition among countries, telecom companies and technology firms. China is currently leading the transition to 6G.
