China Approves 5G Autonomous Driving Standards

China's MIIT Approves Two 5G Network Standards for High-Level Autonomous Driving, Effective September 

Munich, Germany — June 26, 2026 — China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has approved two new 5G network communication standards designed to support high-level autonomous driving, establishing the country's first unified industry benchmark for assessing 5G network quality in autonomous vehicle scenarios. The standards, which take effect on September 1, 2026, matter to automakers, telecom operators, and intelligent connected vehicle developers seeking a consistent framework for network deployment and performance verification. 

The two documents are titled "5G Network Deployment and Test Methods for Supporting High-Level Autonomous Driving" and "5G Network Performance Requirements for Supporting High-Level Autonomous Driving." They were led by the Shanghai Communications Administration, China Mobile, and the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), with input from more than 20 organizations. 

Work on the standards began as early as March 31, 2023, spanning more than three years of refinement, industry-level drafting, and regulatory approval. The standards define specific 5G network rules across multiple high-level autonomous driving application scenarios. 

The framework covers network service capabilities, signal coverage planning, key performance indicators, on-site testing procedures, and communication security constraints. According to the ministry, this marks the first time China has released industry standards specifically addressing 5G network performance and engineering acceptance for high-level autonomous driving, filling a long-standing gap in the sector. 

Key Highlights: 

• MIIT approved two 5G network standards for high-level autonomous driving, effective September 1, 2026. 

• The standards were led by the Shanghai Communications Administration, China Mobile, and CAICT, with input from over 20 organizations. 

• They establish China's first unified benchmark for 5G network quality in autonomous driving, covering coverage planning, KPIs, testing, and security. 

• The rules provide Shanghai a compliance framework for intelligent connected vehicle demonstration roads and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) projects. 

Analyst Insight: 

NMSC analysts note that unified national standards for 5G-enabled autonomous driving are expected to reduce design fragmentation and lower network debugging and acceptance costs, strengthening the foundation for scaled deployment of intelligent connected vehicle services across regions. According to analysts at Next Move Strategy Consulting, the global 5G Technology Market is projected to reach USD 620.72 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 58.6 percent over the forecast period. 

Industry Outlook: 

By preventing a fragmented landscape of inconsistent network schemes and metrics, the standards are positioned to facilitate coordinated rollout of internet-of-vehicles infrastructure across China. The move signals deeper integration between 5G connectivity and the automotive sector, where connected vehicles remain a core application driving long-term 5G market expansion. 

Source: Gasgoo 

Prepared By: Sanyukta Deb

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