Where is the 'new' in the new generation communication network? Xie Cun, Director of the Information and Communication Management Bureau of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said that there are four main aspects of "new". One is to expand the connection objects from traditional individual users to diverse subjects such as humans, machines, objects, and embodied intelligence; Secondly, the coverage area will break through traditional ground limitations and expand towards the integrated coverage of air, space, earth, and sea; Thirdly, the connection capability has been significantly improved in terms of certainty and stability, better meeting the differentiated needs of industry applications; The fourth is the evolution of network functions from simple information transmission to deep integration of multiple capabilities such as communication, perception, computing, intelligence, and security.

It can be said that the new generation of communication networks is not only a traditional network upgrade, but also a key innovation in digital information infrastructure for the intelligent era, "said Xie Cun.

At present, the industry is actively exploring, as evidenced by the recent World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2026 (WAIC 2026) held in Shanghai.

During the conference, the AI Flow exhibition area became a major focus on site. An immersive three-dimensional sand table brings the intelligent communication scene of air, sky, earth, and sea interconnection to the scene, allowing the audience to experience up close the application of "artificial intelligence+information communication" in emergency, navigation, aviation, aerospace, and production life scenarios.

A staff member from China Telecom Artificial Intelligence Research Institute told reporters that unlike traditional communication "bit handling", Zhichuan Network relies on generative intelligent transmission to promote the transition of information communication from traditional "bit stream" to innovative "word element stream" mode, using "computation for bandwidth" to enable limited links to carry more critical information. For example, in the emergency scenarios of circuit breaker, network disconnection, and power outage, the intelligent transmission network can transmit real-time video footage of the disaster scene under extremely narrow satellite link conditions. At present, Zhichuan Network has achieved the full domain intelligent landing of "air, space, earth, and sea", building intelligent transmission bridges for emergency rescue, ocean operations, embodied remote operations, and multi-agent collaboration.

Faced with the rapid development trend of artificial intelligence, the next-generation computing network foundation that supports the stable operation of intelligent agents has also become an important direction of common concern in the industry. The business of intelligent agents is not about 'running fast', but about 'being stable and arriving on time', "said the person in charge of China Mobile's deterministic network project." In response to the common bottlenecks in the industry, we have innovatively built a three-layer progressive isolation system, which is equivalent to drawing a graded dedicated fast lane on the information highway, combined with our self-developed cross layer resource joint scheduling algorithm, which not only does not waste bandwidth resources, but also ensures network quality.

According to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, as of the end of June, China had 5.102 million 5G base stations and 32.86 million 10G PON ports with gigabit network service capabilities. The types of intelligent terminals based on 5G continue to enrich, and products such as artificial intelligence smartphones and computers, intelligent robots, AI glasses, AI toys, etc. have become new hotspots in information consumption. In addition, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has approved the license for the use of 6G test frequency in the 6GHz frequency band, accelerating the second phase of 6G technology testing.

Xie Cun stated that in the next step, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will make the planning and construction of the new generation communication network a key focus for promoting the development of the information and communication industry, deepen research, strengthen overall planning, and improve policies, with a focus on three aspects of work.

Specifically, in terms of strengthening network construction deployment, we will coordinate and promote the construction of basic networks, space networks, international networks, and integrated networks, promote the large-scale commercial use of 5G-A, 10G optical networks, and continue to increase the direction of international submarine cable access, accelerate the construction of new industrial networks, and form an infrastructure system that meets the needs of intelligent economy and intelligent society development.

In terms of strengthening industrial support and empowerment, we will strengthen innovation and research in core technologies such as 6G mobile communication, ultra high speed optical communication, submarine optical cables, and satellite communication, accelerate the development of related products, and support the deployment of high-quality construction of the new generation of communication networks. Highlight the dominant position of enterprises in technological innovation, leverage the roles of industry platforms, research institutes, and industry associations, and achieve efficient collaboration between innovation chains and industrial chains.

In terms of promoting application innovation, we will deepen the application of 5G and gigabit optical networks in key industries, innovate new application scenarios and models. Deepen the integrated development of brain computer interface, embodied intelligence, intelligent connected vehicles, 5G-A/6G, satellite Internet, etc. Give full play to the supporting role of the digital base of the new generation communication network, and synergistically empower the integration and innovation of water networks, new power grids, computing power networks, urban underground pipelines, and logistics networks.

Analysis indicates that the accelerated construction of the new generation communication network is driving the upgrading of industrial chains such as network equipment, chip components, specialized instruments and meters, and intelligent terminals. According to calculations, the new generation of communication networks is expected to drive a total output of approximately 7 trillion yuan in the upstream and downstream sectors in the next five years.