Cabinet approves NT$27 billion project targeting commercial 6G by 2030

Taipei, July 10 (CNA) The Cabinet on Thursday approved a six-year, NT$27 billion (US$923.85 million) project aimed at launching commercial 6G wireless services by 2030 and strengthening Taiwan's role in the next-generation communications supply chain.

The project, led by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), was presented during a weekly Cabinet meeting. It includes plans to develop 6G technologies, attract satellite communication service providers, and create an environment conducive to innovation in the field.

Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) emphasized the importance of capitalizing on emerging 6G and satellite broadband technologies to secure Taiwan's position in the global next-generation communications industry, according to a post-meeting statement.

The initiative aims to enhance Taiwan's influence in global decision-making through a public-private partnership model and to reinforce the country's position in the international supply chain.

As part of the plan, Taiwan will review and revise relevant laws and regulations to support a commercial 6G rollout by 2030, which the NSTC said would also benefit domestic businesses in the sector.

The government also intends to promote the integration of 6G and satellite communications into various industries, including telemedicine and smart transportation, the NSTC said.

In addition, the project will support research and development of globally competitive chips, components and equipment, with input from other ministries, academia, and industry stakeholders.

Some of the project's targets include achieving 80 percent self-sufficiency in the development of hardware and software for 6G base stations, as well as the creation of a low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite communication system primarily using domestically made components.

NSTC Deputy Minister Lin Faa-jeng (林法正) said Taiwan also aims to attract at least three satellite communication service providers by 2030 to advance domestic LEO satellite applications and ensure technological self-reliance.

The NSTC noted that the project aligns with President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) "Taiwan plus one" strategy, which encourages cooperation with countries like the United States to build "democratic supply chains."