China's first Pre-6G test network was put into operation in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province on the 21st. This test network incorporates 6G innovative technologies into the 5G network, featuring high bandwidth, long-distance coverage, low latency determinism, and AI-native integration. Its related capabilities can reach 10 times that of 5G.
According to the WeChat public account "Nanjing News" on the 21st, the 2026 Global 6G Technology and Industrial Ecosystem Conference was recently held in Nanjing, where the achievements of Purple Mountain Laboratories, as the core source of China's 6G technology and integration of communication, sensing, and computing, were especially eye-catching. The laboratory has built the world's first 6G integrated communication-sensing-intelligence field trial network, which is also the industry's first Pre-6G test network.
It is reported that this network is built using advanced 6G technologies and possesses key 6G capabilities such as integrated air-ground coordinated and continuous three-dimensional coverage, extreme connectivity, and the convergence of communication, sensing, intelligent computing, and control. Demonstration applications have actually been carried out in typical scenarios such as drone swarms, low-altitude security, industrial wireless control, and cyber-physical embodied intelligence.
According to the official website of Purple Mountain Laboratories, the laboratory was established in 2018 and is a major science and technology innovation platform jointly promoted by Jiangsu Province and Nanjing City. With a mission to address the country’s major strategic needs in network communications and security, tackle major scientific and technological problems in the industry, and solve critical industrial bottlenecks, the laboratory focuses on major research tasks in future networks, ubiquitous communications, and intrinsic security, conducting fundamental and cutting-edge research.