The GigaMIMO solution, a joint development by ZTE Corporation and China Mobile, made its public debut at MWC Barcelona 2026 on March 4, 2026. The system builds on Massive MIMO technology by incorporating ultra-massive antenna arrays and deep artificial intelligence integration to improve network capacity and user experience across 5G-A networks.
The solution targets emerging service categories including immersive communications, Internet of Vehicles, and embodied intelligence. Moreover, ZTE and China Mobile positioned GigaMIMO as a bridge between current 5G-A deployments and the longer-term transition to 6G infrastructure.
Two Core Technologies Power GigaMIMO Solution
GigaMIMO integrates two distinct technologies: Centralized MIMO and Collaborative MIMO. Centralized MIMO delivers a tenfold capacity increase, supporting high data rates across wider bandwidths and higher frequency bands. In field trials conducted in Xi’an using a U6G base station prototype and Qualcomm test modules, the single-user data rate exceeded 17 Gbps.
Collaborative MIMO, meanwhile, focuses on overlapping coverage areas. It forms a virtual ultra-large antenna array through intelligent multi-site coordination. Trials on a live 5G network in Hubei showed that user experience in overlapping cell areas improved by more than 3 times, while overall system capacity increased by over 25%.
Field Trial Results and Performance Data
The Xi’an field trial produced a single-user downlink rate exceeding 17 Gbps, a figure ZTE cited as evidence of Centralized MIMO’s capability in high-frequency bands. The Hubei live-network trial demonstrated a 3x improvement in user experience within overlapping cell zones. Furthermore, system-wide capacity gains reached 25% above baseline measurements in the same trial environment.
These results reflect the combined effect of spatial domain resource expansion and AI-driven coordination between antenna sites. The trials used both prototype hardware and commercial network infrastructure to validate performance under realistic conditions.
Executive Statements on the Partnership
Huang Yuhong, General Manager of China Mobile Research Institute, stated: “The explosive growth of intelligent services demands comprehensive, high-standard network performance. China Mobile is committed to unlocking the full potential of spatial domain resources, continuously breaking through rate and capacity bottlenecks to deliver premium user experiences.”
“From pioneering the commercialization of Massive MIMO to launching the innovative GigaMIMO solution, China Mobile and ZTE has remained at the forefront of wireless technology evolution. GigaMIMO represents a benchmark achievement in the deep integration of communications and AI.”
Zhang Wanchun, Senior Vice President, ZTE
Context: Spatial Domain Resources and the Road to 6G
Massive MIMO established the foundation for 5G performance by unlocking spatial domain resources. As the telecommunications industry moves toward 6G, deeper reshaping of those spatial resources has become a primary research focus globally. GigaMIMO addresses this direction by scaling antenna array size and embedding AI coordination at the network layer.
ZTE stated it will continue to invest in 6G research and deepen collaboration with China Mobile and other industry partners. The company described GigaMIMO as a step toward a broader ecosystem of high-performance connectivity supporting AI-native services in future networks.
Outlook for GigaMIMO and 6G Development
ZTE and China Mobile indicated they plan to accelerate GigaMIMO’s evolution while expanding investment in 6G research. Both companies stated a commitment to working with global partners to build a shared technology ecosystem. Consequently, the GigaMIMO framework is expected to serve as a reference architecture for next-generation network planning across multiple markets.