China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has unveiled a sweeping three-year implementation plan (2026–2028) aimed at merging artificial intelligence with the country’s vast information and communication technology (ICT) sector. This 'AI+ Information Communication' initiative signals a strategic pivot toward a network architecture that is not just a passive carrier of data but an active, intelligent participant in the digital economy. The directive emphasizes the development of 'self-evolving' networks that can manage, configure, and optimize themselves without human intervention.
Central to this vision is the massive acceleration of high-speed infrastructure. Beijing aims to deploy 400Gbps and 800Gbps backbone networks while ensuring that at least 75% of metropolitan areas are covered by 'one-millisecond latency circles' by 2028. This ultra-low latency is considered the prerequisite for the next generation of industrial AI, where real-time responsiveness is critical for autonomous systems and high-precision manufacturing. The plan also prioritizes the integration of AI inference capabilities directly into network edges, such as 5G-A base stations and optical access points.
The policy moves beyond consumer technology, targeting the 'intelligent transformation' of heavy industries, transportation, and the emerging low-altitude economy. By embedding compute power within the network fabric, China intends to reduce the processing burden on end-user devices, effectively turning the national telecom grid into a distributed supercomputer. This 'MaaS' (Model as a Service) approach aims to provide turnkey AI solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises that lack the resources to build their own proprietary models.
Amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions over semiconductor access, the MIIT is doubling down on domestic research for high-end optoelectronic chips and components. The directive specifically calls for breakthroughs in 'integrated sensing, communication, computing, and intelligence' (ISCCI) technologies. This focus reflects a broader national goal to insulate China’s critical digital infrastructure from external supply chain shocks while setting the global standard for 6G and future networking protocols.