China advancing 5G network deployment
We all know that China has been taking the lead in the 5G race and expanding its influence in the market but domestic ambitions are reaching new heights. Chinese authorities alongside vendors and telecommunication carriers are scaling up 5G deployment for social and economic value across sectors.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the carriers will deploy around 500.000 5G base stations in 2020. This means more and more subscribers registering to the network, which aims to boost the digital economy.
“5G, as an important engine of the digital economy, is a key new infrastructure to realize the interconnection of all things and devices,” Wen Ku, a MIIT spokesman reportedly said.
China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom and state-owned broadcaster China Broadcasting Network, were granted 5G permits by (MIIT).
The way each mobile carrier has developed 5G is relevant to evaluating the network’s expansion in the country. Starting with the world’s largest operator in terms of subscribers, China Mobile added 29.17 million 5G subscribers in the first quarter of 2020, the company said in its earnings release.
The company also said, “It ended May with a total of 55. 6 million subscribers and added 11.86 million subscribers with 5G customers at the end of last year reaching to 2.55 million.”
Regarding 5G base stations across the country, China Mobile deployed 50,000 5G base stations as of the end of last year and currently provides 5G technology in 50 cities.
In addition, the third largest operator China Unicom deployed 130.000 5G base stations in China, without releasing any official figures in 2020.
While China Unicom will work with China Telecom to deploy 250,000 5G base stations by the end of the third quarter, China Telecom added 8.4 million 5G subscribers in May for 30.1 million. China Telecom ended May with 341.2 million mobile subscribers.
Further deployment of this network would stabilize investment, enhance value-chain development and deepen interactions between telecommunications and other industries, as the Chinese government pointed.
The GSMA Association estimates that “28 percent of china’s mobile connections will be running on 5G networks by 2025 which is considered about one-third of all 5G connections globally.”
China is planning to end this year with over 600,000 5G stations, according to a report. China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom have already built more than 250,000 5G base stations across the country, said Lu Chuncong, Deputy Director of (MIIT).