Nanjing-based Purple Mountain Laboratories has launched the world's first 6G field test network, integrating communication, intelligence, and perception capabilities. The breakthrough was demonstrated using drones to evaluate next-generation network functions at a dedicated testing ground in Jiangsu Province.
"By analyzing reflected wireless signals from drones, our base stations can precisely locate objects like radar while enabling communication – a dual functionality never before achieved," explained Huang Yongming, director of the lab's Pervasive Communication Research Center. The system delivers connection speeds exceeding 5G capabilities by over tenfold, alongside centimeter-level spatial awareness.
Researchers highlighted applications in low-altitude logistics and airspace security. "When unauthorized drones enter restricted zones, integrated 6G systems can simultaneously communicate with authorized devices and detect intruders," said lab director You Xiaohu. The network's perception-through-signals approach eliminates dedicated radar hardware needs, potentially revolutionizing urban infrastructure.
As global telecom companies race toward 6G standardization by 2030, China's testbed provides critical data for commercial deployment. The technology's environmental monitoring potential and industrial automation implications position it as foundational infrastructure for smart city development.
