China plans to transition from 5G to "5G-A" network
China has announced draft guidelines aimed at enhancing the nation's data infrastructure. These guidelines highlight plans to upgrade the existing 5G network to meet 5G-A standards, alongside initiatives to foster research, development, and innovation in 6G technology.
The guidelines emphasize the need for a balanced distribution of international communication gateways across eastern, central, and western regions, as well as the expansion of international submarine and land cable information channels. Additionally, the document released by the National Data Bureau on Friday outlines plans to establish a satellite internet system that integrates both space and terrestrial facilities.
As part of these guidelines, which were issued for public feedback, China aims to facilitate a large-scale, cost-effective, and secure flow of data. It will encourage industries and regions to actively explore new technological infrastructures, including blockchain and privacy-preserving computing. The goal is to create a low-cost, efficient, and reliable environment for data delivery that accommodates both centralized and decentralized transactions.
The country also plans to optimize the layout of computing resources and enhance the green development and coordination of general-purpose computing power, intelligent computing power, and supercomputing capabilities.
Furthermore, China intends to strengthen the innovative application of emerging network technologies, refine network billing methods, and reduce data transmission costs between its eastern and western regions.
The 5G-A network is set to exceed the current 5G network in speed, latency, connection scale, and energy efficiency. It is expected to achieve peak data rates of 10 gigabits per second for downloads and 1 gigabit per second for uploads, alongside millisecond-level latency and low-cost connectivity for the Internet of Things.
Cities like Beijing and Shanghai have already begun providing 5G-A network services in select districts.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News