AI and Information Communication Integration: China’s 2028 Policy, Innovation, and Infrastructure Development

The Chinese government has unveiled a strategic framework to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) with information and communications technology (ICT) to accelerate the development of next-generation infrastructure. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) recently issued formal guidance aimed at fostering innovation across the digital ecosystem, with specific mandates to expand the deployment of AI-enabled consumer electronics and enhance computational network capabilities by 2028. This initiative represents a significant push to transition from basic network connectivity to a foundation capable of supporting large-scale, low-latency AI applications.

According to the official Implementation Opinions on the Integrated and Innovative Development of “Artificial Intelligence + Information and Communications” released by the MIIT, the government intends to prioritize the development of AI-integrated smartphones, personal computers, and smart home devices. The policy framework emphasizes that strengthening the hardware foundation—specifically high-end optoelectronic chips and advanced components—is essential for the sustained growth of the domestic artificial intelligence sector. By focusing on these hardware-centric goals, the ministry seeks to ensure that the physical infrastructure underpinning the digital economy keeps pace with the rapid evolution of software-driven generative AI models.

Expanding Computational Infrastructure and Reducing Latency

A primary objective of the new policy is the systematic reduction of network latency to support real-time AI processing. The MIIT has established a target for 2028: ensuring that urban computing power achieves a 1-millisecond latency circle coverage rate of at least 75%. This metric is critical for applications that require immediate data feedback, such as autonomous driving, remote robotic surgery, and real-time industrial automation, where delays of even a few milliseconds can disrupt operational safety and efficiency.

To achieve these infrastructure milestones, the state is encouraging telecommunications operators and technology firms to invest in “computing-network synergy.” This approach involves moving computing resources closer to the end-user—a concept known as edge computing—thereby bypassing the bottlenecks often associated with centralized cloud processing. The move is consistent with broader national efforts to optimize resource allocation across China’s regional data centers, ensuring that high-performance computing power is distributed where it is most needed to support the burgeoning AI-plus-information-communications landscape.

Hardware Innovation as a Strategic Pillar

The ministry’s focus extends beyond network speeds into the manufacturing of the physical components that enable AI. The guidance explicitly calls for increased research and development into high-end optoelectronic chips and specialized hardware devices. This reflects an industry-wide recognition that software innovation alone cannot sustain the demands of modern artificial intelligence; rather, the underlying hardware must be optimized for power efficiency and high-speed data transmission.

By incentivizing the development of “AI-ready” consumer electronics, such as smart wearables and intelligent home appliances, the government aims to create a mass-market demand for high-performance chips. This dual-track strategy—improving core network infrastructure while simultaneously boosting the consumer hardware market—is designed to create a self-sustaining cycle of innovation. Industry analysts suggest that this approach could help domestic firms secure a more competitive position in the global supply chain, particularly as the demand for localized AI processing power continues to rise in both personal and industrial applications.

Stakeholder Impact and Future Roadmap

The integration of AI into the communications sector carries significant implications for telecommunications operators, hardware manufacturers, and software developers. For operators, the transition requires substantial capital expenditure to upgrade existing 5G networks and transition toward 6G-ready architectures that can handle the increased traffic and lower latency requirements mandated by the MIIT. For hardware manufacturers, the focus shifts toward designing integrated circuits that can perform complex AI inference tasks locally on the device, reducing the reliance on constant cloud connectivity.

The government has not yet released the specific budget allocations for these initiatives, but the framework serves as a clear signal to the market regarding the direction of industrial policy. Investors and stakeholders are expected to look for further details in provincial-level implementation plans, which are typically released following national-level directives. The next major checkpoint will involve the release of technical standards for the 1-millisecond latency requirement, which will define the performance benchmarks for network providers and hardware vendors alike.

As these policies move from the legislative stage to technical implementation, the focus will remain on balancing technological autonomy with global interoperability. The success of this “AI+ communications” fusion will likely depend on the industry’s ability to standardize protocols that allow diverse hardware and network components to function as a unified, intelligent system. We will continue to monitor the MIIT’s updates and industry responses as these long-term infrastructure goals move toward the 2028 target date. Readers are encouraged to monitor official government portals and industry filings for the latest technical specifications and project tenders.