China has started researching 6G telecoms technology, state media reported on Thursday.

Chinese government ministries and research institutes met this week in a “kick-off” meeting to establish a national 6G technology research and development group, according to a report by the Science and Technology Daily, is the official newspaper of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China.

China has established two offices to develop 6G, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology. The ministry said on its website that one of the offices consists of government agencies responsible for the relevant policymaking.

The other is comprised of 37 experts from colleges, research academies and enterprises, who are expected to advise policymakers, it said.

While addressing a gathering on Sunday, vice-minister of science and technology Wang Xi said worldwide knowledge about the technology is still in an exploratory stage, without consensus over its definitions and applications.

He said the ministry will work with relevant departments to roll out a plan for 6G development, and work towards breakthroughs regarding its basic theories, key technologies and standards.

Compared with 5G technologies, 6G will aim at covering a wider range of fields with higher speed and greater security. The early research and development will mainly focus on intelligent mobile communications, massive wireless communications, millimeter wave/submillimeter wave wireless communications, optical wireless communications and broadband satellite mobile communications.

Experts predict that 6G technologies will go into commercial operation by 2030.

Beijing’s move to start research into 6G comes days after the country’s top three telecos rolled out 5G mobile phone services nationwide.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump in February tweeted that he wanted 6G technology in the United States as soon as possible, urging U.S. firms to step up their efforts or get left behind.