In June, China Broadnet said it had reached 9 million 5G package subscribers twelve months after launching the service
Chinese operator China Broadnet shortlisted local vendors Huawei and ZTE for the second phase of a 5G core project, Chinese press reported.
According to the report, the project is valued at CNY82.5 million ($11.3 million), news portal DVBCN reported.
The project will cover 17 provinces in the north and 15 in the south, along with engineering services and a one-year warranty. Each vendor bid for about 66% of the full project, according to the report.
In June, China Broadnet said it had reached 9 million 5G package subscribers twelve months after launching the service. The telco said it expected to increase its 5G customer base to 50 million in three years. The carrier recently confirmed it had reached nationwide coverage with its 5G service.
The telco’s deputy General Manager, Zeng Qingjun, said that China Broadnet has already deployed a total of 480,000 700 MHz base stations last year in partnership with China Mobile.
China Broadnet had reached the 1 million 5G subscriber mark in October last year. The operator became the country’s fourth operator when formally inaugurated in 2020, having previously acquired a license for commercial 5G services in 2019. The carrier was initially known as China Broadcasting Network before rebranding in 2022.
It was granted a 5G license in June 2019, after it secured 80 megahertz of 700 MHz spectrum and 100 megahertz of spectrum in the 4.9 GHz band.
In May 2020, the company had announced plans to deploy a nationwide 700 MHz 5G network in cooperation with China Mobile.
Under the terms of the deal, China Broadnet has access to China Mobile’s 2.6 GHz network and receives guidance and investment from the mobile operator. China Mobile will share its 2.6 GHz network on a paid basis, with China Broadnet able to access its 2G, 4G and 5G infrastructure prior to the launch of the 700 MHz network.
China Broadnet’s five largest shareholders are China Broadcasting Network Corporation, with a 51% stake, State Grid Information & Telecommunication, Alibaba Venture Capital Management, Guangdong Radio Television Network and Beijing All Media and Culture.
In June, Huawei and ZTE were awarded a large portion of two China Mobile 5G network tenders valued at CNY7.8 billion.
Huawei won nearly 52% of the contracts while ZTE secured nearly 27%. Meanwhile, Ericsson secured an 8.2% share, Datang Mobile 7.1% and Nokia 5.2%.
