Chinese authorities have launched a second phase of national 6G technology trials, a step that shifts the programme from foundational research toward system integration and field validation. The move signals Beijing’s intention to keep pace with, and possibly outstrip, rival efforts overseas as governments and companies jockey to define the standards, spectrum and industrial chain for the next generation of wireless communications.
The first phase of China’s 6G effort concentrated on basic research: theoretical frameworks, component-level experiments and early prototype demonstrations in areas such as terahertz links, sensing-communications convergence, and AI-native network control. In the second phase, testing typically widens to multi-node trials, interoperability checks, spectrum verification, and scenario-driven experiments—urban hotspots, factory floors and satellite-ground links—designed to stress real-world performance and identify engineering trade-offs.
State research institutes, large carriers and major equipment vendors are the natural pillars of such trials; their cooperation accelerates development of end-to-end stacks and builds a case for domestic supply chains. A successful second phase will produce more mature reference designs, patentable techniques and operational experience that can be leveraged in standards discussions and export pitches to overseas operators seeking next-generation upgrades.
The timing matters. The international technical community is converging on the idea of “IMT‑2030” as the next milestone after 5G, but the shape and timetable of those standards remain open. By advancing to system-level trials now, China improves its leverage in standardisation bodies and global consortia where early implementation experience can translate into influential proposals and intellectual property advantages.
Beyond commercial competition, the technology has strategic implications. 6G research overlaps with high-frequency radio, advanced sensing, and ubiquitous AI — capabilities with both civilian and defence uses. Progress in large-scale, integrated trials therefore attracts attention not only from telecom executives but also from policymakers concerned with supply‑chain resilience, export controls and the security posture of critical networks.
For the global telecom market, the second phase narrows uncertainty about timelines and helps vendors and operators outside China plan procurement and R&D strategies. It also raises the likelihood that Chinese firms will continue to be central players in equipment supply and patent pools for elements of 6G, affecting commercial partnerships and regulatory reviews in regions that remain wary of dominant suppliers.
In the near term, observers should watch for three tangible outputs from this phase: published trial results and performance metrics, demonstration of interoperability among vendors, and patent filings that reveal technical choices. These will be stronger indicators of practical progress than announcements alone and will shape whether 6G technologies become a commercial reality in the latter half of this decade or remain largely experimental.
While the technical path to fully realised 6G remains long and contested, the commencement of second‑phase trials demonstrates that China is treating next‑generation networking as a strategic, near‑term priority. That posture will influence standardisation debates, industrial policy, and international competition over the coming years.