China: China to push ahead-of-demand rollout of next-generation communications networks.

Shotlist Beijing, China - Sept 23, 2026 1. Various of products on display at PT Expo China 2026; visitors 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Yu Xiaohui, vice minister, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (ending with shot 3): "We will systemically promote the development of an application-driven and appropriately future-oriented next-generation communications network, push broadband networks toward dual 10-gigabit evolution, and advance the construction of low-Earth orbit satellite internet systems. We will also holistically optimize a communications network that links ground and sea, expand and improve computing facilities, and strengthen computing-network integration and the interconnection of computing power, so as to better support the national integrated computing network." 3. Various of visitors; products on display; robotic dogs FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown 4. Entrance to Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) FILE: Beijing, China - Date Unknown 5. Aerial shot of cityscape FILE: China - Exact Location and Date Unknown 6. Various of worker installing base station equipment 7. Various of base station FILE: China - Exact Location and Date Unknown 8. Various of animation showing base station equipment sending signals 9. Various of animation showing 6G-empowered city Storyline China will push for the rollout of next-generation communication networks ahead of market demand in the coming five years, a senior official with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said on Wednesday at the annual International Postal and Telecommunications Expo (PT Expo). The push mirrors the development plan recently issued by the ministry for the information and communications industry during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). According to the plan, a new-generation communications network with comprehensive coverage and leading performance is expected to be fully established by 2030, the 5G user penetration rate will reach 95 percent, gigabit-capable broadband will connect to 320 million households, and intelligent computing power will reach 9,800 EFLOPS -- a unit of computing performance, with each unit representing one quintillion floating-point operations per second. "We will systemically promote the development of an application-driven and appropriately future-oriented next-generation communications network, push broadband networks toward dual 10-gigabit evolution, and advance the construction of low-Earth orbit satellite internet systems. We will also holistically optimize a communications network that links ground and sea, expand and improve computing facilities, and strengthen computing-network integration and the interconnection of computing power, so as to better support the national integrated computing network," said Yu Xiaohui, vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The move came as breakthroughs in digital intelligence technologies -- represented by artificial intelligence -- brought opportunities for the development of information and communication. As of the end of July, China had deployed over 5.15 million 5G base stations, with early-stage deployment of 10-gigabit optical networks already underway and intelligent computing power standing at 2,185 EFLOPs, according to official data. China will also deepen the integration of terrestrial and satellite networks, including commercial applications for smartphone direct-to-satellite services and the Internet of Things (IoT), ramp up research and development for 6G base stations, and advance the development of standards in key information and communication sectors, such as computing power networks and quantum communication, according to the development plan. The PT Expo this year is being held from Tuesday to Thursday in Beijing. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]