State Council Outlines New-Generation Communications Network, RMB1.3 Trillion Investment in 15th Five-Year

The State Council executive meeting on August 21 deployed the construction of a new-generation communications network, proposing an application-driven, moderately forward-looking approach and coordinating the construction of basic, space, international, and converged networks. The meeting emphasized innovation-driven and intelligent leadership, popularizing new-generation intelligent terminals, and cultivating high-value scenarios such as smart cities and intelligent manufacturing. It also called for strengthening key network infrastructure and data security protection and enhancing emergency communication capabilities. Regarding construction mechanisms, the meeting will improve the model of government guidance, enterprise as the main body, and social participation, ensuring factor guarantees such as land, electricity, and spectrum.

The new-generation communications network covers basic networks composed of 5G, 5G-A, 6G, and 10-gigabit optical networks; space networks mainly based on satellite internet; international networks mainly using submarine and terrestrial optical cables; and converged networks including industrial internet and low-altitude intelligent networking. Both building new networks with new technologies and upgrading existing networks fall within its scope. With the emergence of new applications such as artificial intelligence, humanoid robots, and intelligent connected vehicles, communication connections are becoming increasingly complex, satellite resources are becoming scarcer, and the connotation of communications networks is expanding. They no longer merely have communication functions but must also perceive the physical world, possess computing capabilities, achieve intelligent scheduling through network autonomy, and ensure the security of massive connections.

The three major domestic telecom operators recently responded to the new-generation communications network construction arrangements at earnings briefings. China Telecom stated that the new-generation communications network is an upgrade and evolution of traditional communications networks, featuring space-air-ground integration, communication-intelligence integration, and communication-sensing integration, and is highly integrated with video networking, quantum communication networks, and others. China Unicom and China Telecom cooperate in building a 5G shared network, with broadband networks constructing an innovative broadband core network architecture, and government-enterprise business networks forming synergistic advantages. China Mobile's high-speed rail dedicated network has improved average uplink and downlink rates by more than 15%, achieved L4-level capability in 21 high-value scenarios of its autonomous network, released a 5G-A passive IoT solution, and ranks among the global operators' first tier in the number of 6G international standard projects.

The new-generation communications network and the computing power network have a synergistic relationship. The communications network provides efficient connections for the computing power network, such as computing access and inter-computing, while the computing power network provides computing support for the communications network, enabling AI-driven network management and AI-intelligent networking. Together, they will form the foundation of the new digital information infrastructure, supporting the large-scale implementation of artificial intelligence and the development of the digital economy. Currently, artificial intelligence has become an important variable in the construction and operation of new infrastructure, reshaping related industry logic and business models.