5G technology has been already used in 52 of the 97 major economic categories in China
The Chinese government plans to increase resources to accelerate 5G deployment across the nation, local press reported, citing an official from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
The official also noted that China will also expand the application of 5G technology in various fields and promote the research and development of 6G.
“China has built the world’s largest 5G network with the most advanced technologies. The number of 5G base stations had exceeded 2.64 million by the end of March this year,” said Zhao Ce, deputy head of the information and telecommunications development department at the MIIT.
Zhao said the ministry will aim to bolster the deployment of the 5G network in an orderly manner and accelerate its industrial applications and strengthen international exchange and communication in 5G-related technology, standards and application.
The official added that 5G technology has been already used in 52 of the 97 major economic categories in China, with large-scale application expanded to mining, ports and electricity.
The ministry recently predicted the number of 5G base stations in China will hit 2.9 million at the end of 2023.
The Chinese government also revealed that the number of cities in China with the capability to offer gigabit 5G and optical fiber services reached 110 by the end of October 2022.
According to a recent GSMA report, dubbed “The Mobile Economy China 2023”,5G technology will add $290 billion to the Chinese economy in 2030, with benefits spread across industries.
5G will overtake 4G in 2024 to become the dominant mobile technology in China, according to the report. “4G and 5G dominance in China means legacy networks are now being phased out. While most users have been migrated to 4G and 5G, legacy networks continue to support various IoT services. However, some estimates suggest that legacy networks could be almost entirely shut down in China by 2025,” the study reads.
Zhao noted that China has already established the IMT-2030 (6G) Promotion Group, with the main aim of gathering China’s industrial and academic research to promote 6G in a wide range of areas, including at a technological level and also in terms or economic and social impacts.
Last year, China’s IMT-2030 (6G) Promotion Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 6G with the 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G-IA), which represents European industry and research for next-generation networks and services.
Under the terms of the agreement, both organizations announced plans to further promote cooperation on 6G systems and networks. 6G systems are expected to be launched commercially by 2030; the first phase of standardization will likely start from 2025, leading to the first 6G specification in 3GPP Release 21 by 2028. However, South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT recently unveiled plans to commercialize an initial 6G network service in 2028.
