Ahead of the global surge to contribute to the next-gen wireless networks, the China 6G movement finally launched with early tests and infrastructure plans while Europe struggles to match the Chinese pace, as Beijing sets the bar for a high-stakes technological showdown.
When it comes to plans and an early initiative, China testing 6G positioned Beijing at the lead of pretty much defining 6G’s future – contrary to the US and Europe which risk falling behind China due to fragmented investments and regulatory hesitancy.
As countries dream about an ultra-high-speed future and intelligent systems, China is no longer conceptualizing, it’s building. Beijing is showing the world its competitive capacity, and China and 6G research initiatives could strategically control key telecom standards.
China Races Ahead While Europe Is in Slow Mode
6G technology in China is moving at fast speed. In 2024, it submitted three official technical standards for 6G to the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union (ITU). 6G network in China is part of the country’s “future industries” plan within its 2025 roadmap, indicating how much it is taking this technology seriously.
A report in China’s Scientia Sinica Informationis newspaper, “6G Mobile Communication System: Vision, Requirements, and Challenges” reveals a global divide. The report was prepared together by Chinese industry participants like Huawei, China Mobile Research Institute, and top universities.
“European and American operators are unwilling to invest in 6G research and development because 5G rollout is comparatively lagging behind,” the report highlighted.
Japan and South Korea, early 5G adopters, also share the Chinese optimism about 6G, but European telcos, especially in France, Italy, and Germany, are cautious, with minimal 6G feature plans.
Who Could Lost the Most from China 6G?
The ITU is working with global stakeholders to finalize standards for a commercial 6G rollout by 2030. As the technology gap widens, will the China developing 6G strategy dictate the rules? Or can Europe catch up in time?
Ericsson predicts early tests to commence as soon as 2028, and with that, China working on 6G goes from theory to practice, it’s clear that this is not a matter of technological upgrade, it’s a race for the world with real power at stake.
The 6G race isn’t just about speed, it’s influence, control.
If the China 6G sets the pace and standards, it could very well have the backbones of future digital infrastructure in its hand. Europe, though, will be left behind if it doesn’t shift gears fast. With technology affecting everything from medicine to defense, the issue is not so much who comes up with it first, but who gets to decide how the world uses it. Right now, China seems to be creating the 6G rules and if Europe decides to abide by them, it may find itself following them.
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