The 5G subscriptions now represent 56% of all mobile lines in China
China’s 5G mobile phone subscriptions surpassed 1 billion by the end of November, local press reported, citing data released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
The 5G subscriptions now represent 56% of all mobile lines in China, reflecting a 9.4 percentage point increase compared to the previous year.
The official data also showed that China had installed approximately 4.2 million 5G base stations as of the end of November. This infrastructure accounts for more than 60% of the global total, according to earlier industry estimates.
Currently, the country boasts a total of 29 5G base stations per 10,000 residents, meeting a target outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) ahead of schedule, according to Zhang Yunming, Vice Minister of MIIT. These networks now provide comprehensive coverage, including critical areas such as government service hubs, cultural landmarks, tourist destinations and key transportation corridors.
Efforts by the Chinese government to extend 5G connectivity to rural and remote regions are also underway as part of a broader strategy to bridge the digital divide, the report added.
The MIIT, in collaboration with 11 other government bodies, recently announced an updated plan to expand 5G applications, with a goal of widespread use by 2027. Known as the second “Set Sail” action plan, it prioritizes consumer-oriented applications and aims to:
-Increase 5G base stations to 38 per 10,000 people.
-Achieve a personal 5G user penetration rate exceeding 85%.
-Ensure that over 75% of network traffic is carried via 5G networks.
The report also stated that Shanghai, one of China’s key economic centers, has unveiled a three-year strategy to scale up 5G applications by 2026. This includes advancing 5G Advanced (5G-A) technology and fostering its convergence with artificial intelligence. Specific objectives include achieving a 5G personal user penetration rate of over 90% and ensuring continuous 5G and 5G-A coverage for low-altitude aviation routes.
Shanghai also aims to develop high-standard 5G-enabled manufacturing facilities and explore integrating 5G with emerging technologies like humanoid robotics and innovative energy systems.
China is expected to reach a 5G adoption rate of 90% by 2030, making it a world leader in this space, according to the GSMA’s Mobile Economy China 2024. The report predicted that by the end of 2024, the county will surpass 1 billion 5G connections and that by 2030, the number will soar to 1.6 billion connections, contributing $260 billion to China’s GDP.
Additionally, the report found that mobile data traffic in China is expected to quadruple by the end of the decade and that there are now 1.28 billion unique mobile subscribers in China, representing a penetration rate of 88%. Further, the advanced cellular ecosystem now supports almost 8 million jobs in China and contributes $110 billion a year through taxation, and in 2023, operator revenues reached $225 billion. By the end of the decade, the annual economic contribution from China’s mobile sector is forecast to exceed $1 trillion, predicted the GSMA.
