\tChina\u2019s three major mobile operators officially launched 5G services in parts of 50 cities, claiming the largest rollout in the world just six months after the government issued licences [1].<\/p>\n
The three operations deployed about 86,000 5G base stations and expect to have more than 130,000 by year-end. Market leader China Mobile aims to install 50,000 sites by end-December, while China Unicom and China Telecom each target about 40,000.<\/p>\n
China Unicom claimed ubiquitous 5G coverage in 14 cities and 28,000 base stations.<\/p>\n
Data allowances
\nAll three operators announced similar packages with different speed tiers. Users without a 5G device can still subscribe to the 5G plans to take advantage of the larger data allowances.<\/p>\n
China Mobile, for example, offers five plans with two speed tiers: speed limits of 500Mb\/s and 1Gb\/s. Monthly prices range from CYN128 ($18.10) for 30GB (low tier) to CNY598 for 300GB (high tier).<\/p>\n
It\u2019s giving 30 per cent discounts to existing customers, who have subscribed for three to five years. The company said it already registered 10 million customers to 5G packages.<\/p>\n
China Unicom, the third largest operator in the country, claimed ubiquitous coverage in 14 cities, with plans to have service in 40 cities by the end of the year.<\/p>\n
Chen Zhaoxiong, vice minister of Industry and Information Technology (centre), kicked off the launch with representatives from the three operators at PT Expo China in Beijing today (31 October).<\/p>\n
Watershed moment
\nGSMA Intelligence’s Head of Research, Tim Hatt, hailed the move as a “watershed moment” for the industry: \u201cChina will have 36 per cent of its mobile customer base on 5G by 2025. Because of its huge population this translates into 600 million subscribers – roughly 40 per cent of the entire global 5G market by that time. Expect this to act as an increasing force of gravity for a domestic supporting ecosystem of handset manufacturers, chip makers, network equipment suppliers and content producers that reduces reliance on foreign companies.”<\/p>\n
Hatt also pointed to the impact the deployment will have on China’s global ambitions. “5G is part of a wider set of advanced technologies – including AI, machine learning and edge computing – that have become strategically important levers in the transformation to digital economies, be those manufacturing or service-based,” he noted. “China is staking its claim to be at the forefront of this transition over the next 10 years, commanding both economic and geopolitical influence.\u201d<\/p>\n[1] https:\/\/www.mobileworldlive.com\/asia\/asia-news\/chinese-operators-receive-5g-licences\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
China’s three major mobile operators officially launched 5G services in parts of 50 cities, claiming …<\/p>\n
The post China’s big three operators launch 5G<\/a> appeared first on Mobile World Live<\/a>.<\/p>\n