Mobile operators are expected to add a total of 600,000 base stations across China during 2022
Chinese operators have already deployed over 1.97 million 5G base stations across the country, local news agency Xinhua reported, citing data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
All prefecture-level cities, counties and 96% of towns across China currently have 5G network coverage, according to the MIIT.
Also, mobile operators are expected to add a total of 600,000 base stations to boost 5G infrastructure across China during 2022, according to previous reports.
The number of 5G mobile users in China had reached 475 million by the end of July, according to the MIIT. The figure represented a net increase of 120 million users compared with the end of last year.
The ministry also said that it will continue to gradually extend the coverage of high-quality networks to rural areas.
China Mobile, the world’s largest operator in terms subscribers, recently said it had invested a total of CNY58.7 billion ($8.7 billion) in the 5G segment in the first half of the year.
“We put in use a cumulative of one million 5G base stations, including 300,000 700 MHz 5G base stations, which together served 263 million 5G network customers and more than 4,400 5G dedicated network projects,” China Mobile said.
China Mobile also said that it continued to promote the co-construction and sharing of its 5G network with China Broadcasting Network Corporation using spectrum in the 700 MHz band.
Meanwhile, China Telecom said it expected to deploy an additional 120,000 5G base stations in the second half of the year to take the total to 990,000.
Along with network partner China Unicom, China Telecom increased the number of 5G base stations by 180,000 in the first half, taking the total to 870,000.
China Telecom said it aims to take 5G coverage to all cities, counties, and key villages and towns by the end of the year.
China ended June with a total of 927.44 million subscribers in the 5G segment, according to the carriers’ latest available figures.
Chinese operators recorded a net gain of 28.2 million 5G subscribers in June.
China Mobile, the world’s largest operator in terms of subscribers, added a total of 15.81 million 5G subscribers during June. The operator said it ended last month with 510.94 million 5G subscribers.
China Mobile had added a total of 124.14 million subscribers in the 5G segment during the first half of the year.
Rival operator China Unicom said it added a total of 5.2 million 5G subscribers during June. The carrier ended the month with 184.9 million 5G subscribers.
Meanwhile, China Telecom added 7.18 million 5G subscribers last month to take its total 5G subscribers base to 231.6 million. During the first six months of the year, the telco had added a total of 43.85 million 5G subscribers.
