In the patent layout of 6G in the future communication technology, China has been far ahead and occupies an absolutely dominant position. The United States and Japan are not far behind, trying their best to catch up. The huge gap between the three countries in the proportion of 6G patents reflects the relative strength of the three countries in this key emerging field, and also indicates the redistribution of the dominance of communication technology in the future, and a new battle for communication hegemony is surging.
1. The number of 6G patents in China accounts for a far lead
With the gradual maturity and widespread application of 5G communication technology, 6G, as the core technology of next-generation wireless communication, has become the focus of a new round of competition among global technology giants. In this 6G patent competition, China can be said to be far ahead. According to the latest statistics, there are currently more than 38,000 6G-related patents applied for worldwide, of which the number of patent applications in China accounts for 40.3%, ranking firmly in the world.
This figure not only demonstrates China's innovation strength in the field of 6G, but also reflects the dominance of the mainland in the future development direction of communication technology. China's ability to dominate the number of 6G patents is largely due to the dual promotion of national strategic deployment and enterprise innovation.
On the one hand, the Chinese government attaches great importance to the development of 6G and has formulated a systematic plan. It is clearly stated that by 2025, breakthroughs will be made in 6G core technologies; By 2030, the 6G technology system will be basically formed. The central government will also invest nearly 3 billion yuan in 6G technology research and development. On the other hand, Chinese enterprises and scientific research institutions have invested heavily in the field of 6G and have achieved fruitful results. With its deep accumulation in the communications field, Huawei leads the world in the number of 6G patent applications, with 3,435 related patent applications. State-owned enterprises such as State Grid and China Aerospace are also the main applicants for 6G patents, reflecting the mainland's all-round efforts in the layout of 6G technology.
Second, the United States and Japan are trying to catch up in the field of 6G
Although temporarily lagging behind China in the number of 6G patents, the United States and Japan have not given up on competition in this area. As science and technology powerhouses, governments and enterprises in both countries are increasing investment in 6G research and development, hoping to regain the leading edge in the new round of communication revolution.
According to statistics, the United States ranks with 35.2% of the global 6G patent applications, while Japan ranks with 9.9%. Although these two figures are somewhat different from China, they are still at the leading level in the world.
The U.S. government has introduced a 6G development strategy to encourage local companies to increase investment. As an American communications giant, Qualcomm has applied for 3,988 6G-related patents, ranking first in the world. Technology giants such as Microsoft and Intel are also deploying 6G technology in the field of software and terminals. The United States has also invested in Musk's "Starlink program", hoping to win the initiative in 6G competition with the help of satellite Internet technology.
The Japanese government and enterprises have also formed a joint research posture in the field of 6G. Japan's four major telecom giants jointly developed the world's first prototype of 6G wireless equipment, marking a major breakthrough in Japan's 6G technology research and development. The device has a maximum transmission rate of 1 TB/s and a latency of only 0.1 milliseconds, demonstrating Japan's advantages in the field of ultra-high frequency wireless devices. Japanese companies such as Sony, Panasonic, and Mitsubishi have also accumulated a large number of patents on key 6G technologies such as antenna control and signal radiation.
Third, the gap between the three countries' 6G patents highlights the disparity in strength
From the gap in the number of 6G patents, it is not difficult to see that there is a clear gap in the strength of China, the United States and Japan in this field. The proportion of China's 6G patents far exceeds that of the United States and Japan, which not only reflects the mainland's advantages in mobile communication infrastructure technology, but also highlights China's leading position in 6G key core technologies.
Specifically, China has a leading position in 6G core technologies such as terahertz technology, air-space-sea integration technology, deterministic network technology, and AI-based air interface technology. For example, Huawei and other Chinese companies have the highest number of patent applications in air interface technology branches such as "ultra-massive MIMO", "full-duplex", and "orthogonal time-frequency OTFS waveforms". In terms of green energy-saving technologies, Huawei is also leading the way in passive IoT and network energy-saving technologies.
U.S. companies have certain advantages in the field of software and terminals, but they temporarily lag behind China in infrastructure construction. Japanese companies are mainly concentrated in the fields of antenna control and signal radiation, and the layout of 6G core technology is still relatively weak.
Chinese enterprises and scientific research institutions have a more comprehensive patent layout and stronger technical reserves in the key core technologies of 6G, which has laid a solid foundation for the mainland to dominate the 6G standard and will also strongly promote the rapid development of the 6G industry in the mainland.
Fourth, the undercurrent of the struggle for telecommunications hegemony is surging
6G is considered to be another important engine for the development of information and communication technology after 5G. It will completely change the future communication landscape and push the digital economy and information society to a new level. Leading 6G standards and technologies means controlling the dominance and discourse in the future communications field.
It is precisely because of the huge strategic value behind 6G that the competition between China, the United States and Japan in this field is becoming increasingly fierce, and a new battle for communication hegemony is surging.
With its absolute leading edge in the number of 6G patents and core technologies, China is expected to lead the formulation of 6G standards, so as to occupy the commanding heights in the future communication landscape. This will not only promote the take-off of the mainland's communications industry, but also win a greater voice for the mainland in the global industrial chain.
The United States, on the other hand, hopes to gain an advantage in the field of 6G "space-ground integration" communication with the help of the "Starlink Project" and other means, so as to regain its dominant position in the field of communications. Although Japan is temporarily lagging behind in the number of 6G patents, its advantages in key technologies such as ultra-high frequency wireless equipment also make it retain a place in the 6G competition.
In the next few years, the competition between China, the United States and Japan in the formulation of 6G standards, patent layout, and industrial ecological construction will become more intense. Who can ultimately dominate 6G standards and technologies will determine the future communication landscape and control the dominance and discourse in the field of communications. A new struggle for communications supremacy is surging undercurrent.
In terms of 6G patent layout, China has taken the lead and occupied the commanding heights. The United States and Japan, on the other hand, are desperately trying to catch up, and the competition between the three countries in this area is becoming increasingly fierce. Who can ultimately dominate 6G standards and technologies will determine the future communication landscape and control the dominance and discourse in the field of communications. A new struggle for communications supremacy is surging undercurrent.