China issues 15th Five-Year Plan to build 6G networks by 2030
On October 23, 2026, the Central Network Security and Informatization Commission issued the National Informatization 15th Five-Year Plan, setting a target for China to comprehensively build next-generation communication networks and initiate commercial Sixth Generation mobile communication services by 2030.
The newly released document maps out the country's technology trajectory through the end of the decade, shifting from isolated technical breakthroughs to systematic vertical integration across computing power, systems, models, and applications.
Setting Targets for 2030 Infrastructure and 6G Deployment
By 2030, the plan projects that the popularization rate of new smart terminals and intelligent agents will exceed 90 percent, doubling from the 40 percent baseline expected in 2025. Other quantified metrics in the official blueprint include raising the internet penetration rate from 80.1 percent to 85 percent, and increasing the number of 5G and 5G-A base stations per 10,000 people from 34 to 50.
The timeline for advanced mobile communications marks a distinct shift from previous policy cycles. While the 14th Five-Year Plan in December 2021 focused on network architecture and research into terrestrial-satellite integration and terahertz communications, the current directive explicitly schedules the commercial launch of 6G. Government briefings in January 2026 confirmed that first-phase technical trials for 6G had already yielded over 300 key technology reserves, paving the way for the second phase of testing.
Plan Emphasizes Domestic Hardware Resilience and Advanced Process Capabilities
Industrial development under the directive emphasizes domestic hardware resilience and supply chain depth. The plan calls for refining mature semiconductor manufacturing nodes while expanding advanced process capabilities, alongside pushing for breakthroughs in three-dimensional integration, optical-electronic fusion, and in-memory computing technologies.
These hardware targets align with broader structural adjustments across the domestic tech sector, where firms are accelerating adaptation to foundational models and high-performance computing architectures. The plan encourages the integration of operating systems with artificial intelligence frameworks.
Implementing Systematic Coordination Across Regions
To execute the blueprint, the Cyberspace Administration of China will coordinate across central and local government bodies to monitor implementation and evaluate periodic development reports. Financial backing will rely on coordinating fiscal funds and industrial capital while encouraging long-term strategic investment to support the network industry.
While the strategy establishes clear benchmarks for network density and digital economic contribution to gross domestic product—projecting the digital economy’s core industries to rise from 10.5 percent to 12.5 percent of GDP—questions remain regarding the precise pace of international standardization agreements for 6G and the commercial return on investment for large-scale spatial computing deployments.