Full 5G coverage in Chinese towns and cities

5G networks deployed by Chinese operators have now reached every city and town across China, as reported by Xinhua. Additionally, over 90% of Chinese villages are covered by 5G infrastructure, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The ministry’s data reveals that Chinese carriers have deployed 3.84 million 5G base stations, making up more than 60% of the global total. Since China issued its first commercial 5G licenses five years ago, the technology has been integrated into various sectors, including industry, power, mining, healthcare, and education.

China has constructed 300 5G factories and initiated over 13,000 projects to apply 5G technology in industrial settings. The ministry stated that efforts to expand 5G network coverage will continue, targeting areas such as cultural and tourism sites, healthcare facilities, universities, transportation hubs, and subway systems.

Chinese officials and company executives announced at Mobile World Congress Shanghai last month that China will push forward with the commercial launch of 5G-Advanced (5G-A) technologies. This advancement is expected to enhance artificial intelligence applications across various sectors and pave the way for future 6G systems.

This year marks the commercial debut of 5G-Advanced technology, which promises significant upgrades in functionality and coverage for the 5G network. Zhao Zhiguo, chief engineer at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, emphasized the importance of 5G-A in integrating current 5G technology with next-generation information technologies, particularly AI. He also highlighted the role of 5G in empowering emerging industries like intelligent connected vehicles and the low-altitude economy. The deployment of integrated sensing and passive internet of things technologies is vital for scenarios requiring ubiquitous connectivity and high-end manufacturing.

In April, China Mobile announced plans to introduce 5G-Advanced technology in over 300 cities across China this year. The company, a leader in developing 5G-A standards, also aims to release more than 20 5G-A compatible phones within the year and has established 5G-A demonstration halls across various locations in China to showcase the new network.