China currently holds 35% of all 6G patents worldwide, according to a recent report authored by the Chinese Patent Office.
The document was released on Sunday in a press conference, according to Communications Weekly, a state-owned publication. 6G is the next, next generation of telecommunications technology, which can be 100 times faster than 5G and enable a seamless connection between cellular and satellite networks.
Currently, there are over 38,000 patents globally related to 6G technologies, the report says. With 13,449 6G patents, or 35% of the global total, Chinese institutions and companies have filed the most patent applications than any other country. The United States comes in second place with 18%.
The report urges China to "utilize its technological advantage in 5G to continue staying ahead." To prepare for this future arm race, American companies have started setting 6G standards while the European Union is funding a 6G research project.
In certain critical aspects of 6G where China lags behind behind, the country should cooperate with leading companies from Japan and Korea, like NTT, Mitsubishi and Daewoo Telecom "to reduce reliance on American and European technologies," the report suggests.