en.Wedoany.com Reported - Xie Cun, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and Director of the Information and Communication Administration Bureau, stated at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on July 20, 2026, that the MIIT will prioritize the planning and construction of next-generation communication networks as a key driver for the development of the information and communication industry. Leveraging the implementation of the industry's "15th Five-Year Plan" as a focal point, the ministry will deepen research, strengthen coordination, and refine policies, focusing on three key areas.
The MIIT is a constituent department of the State Council, responsible for industry management, industrial policy formulation, and development planning in China's industrial and information technology sectors. The Information and Communication Administration Bureau is its functional department overseeing communication industry regulation and policy advancement. Xie Cun noted at the press conference that next-generation communication networks are critical infrastructure supporting the development of an intelligent economy and intelligent society. The "15th Five-Year Plan" (2026-2030) is China's 15th five-year plan for national economic and social development, with the information and communication industry forming a significant component. Xie Cun emphasized that the MIIT will highlight the central role of enterprises in technological innovation, leveraging the functions of industrial platforms, research institutes, and industry associations to achieve efficient synergy between the innovation chain and the industrial chain.
In terms of network construction and deployment, the MIIT will coordinate the development of foundational networks, space networks, international networks, and integrated networks. It will promote the large-scale commercial use of 5G-A (5G-Advanced) and 10-gigabit optical networks, continuously expand the reach of international submarine cables, accelerate the construction of new industrial networks, and establish an infrastructure system suited to the needs of an intelligent economy and intelligent society. According to industry data, as of June 2026, China had built over 4 million 5G base stations, with the number of 5G users exceeding 900 million.
In terms of industrial support and empowerment, efforts will be strengthened in core technology innovation and breakthroughs in areas such as 6G mobile communication, ultra-high-speed optical communication, submarine optical cables, and satellite communications. This will accelerate the development of related products, supporting the high-quality construction and deployment of next-generation communication networks. In terms of application innovation and promotion, the ministry will deepen the application of 5G and gigabit optical networks in key industries, innovate application scenarios and models, and advance the integrated development of brain-computer interfaces, embodied intelligence, intelligent connected vehicles with 5G-A/6G, and satellite internet. This will leverage the digital foundation role of next-generation communication networks to collaboratively empower integrated application innovations in water networks, new power grids, computing networks, urban underground pipeline networks, and logistics networks.
