China Rolls Out 5G Services In Race To Narrow Tech Gap
China Rolls Out 5G Services In Race To Narrow Tech Gap

China's three significant state telecom operators rolled out 5G wireless technology Thursday, as the country is racing to narrow its technology gap with the U.S. amid a bruising trade war. China Mobile, the country's largest carrier, announced its 5G services were available in 50 cities - including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen - with packages starting from 128 yuan ($18) a month.

 
Rivals China Telecom and China Unicom are also supplying services at comparable prices in major cities, according to notices on their websites. The ultra-fast mobile internet service - which is 100 times faster than existing 4G networks - enables consumers to download full-length films within seconds, or use apps with virtual reality.
 
The technology will also lead the way for driverless cars, further automation in factories, and allow users to remotely control appliances like coffee makers and ovens via the internet. China is supposed to be a front-runner in the adoption of 5G services with over 170 million 5G subscribers by next year, according to estimates by China Telecom. South Korea will be in second place with a predicted 75,000 users, followed by the U.S. with 10,000, analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein said in a research note last week.
 
''China will promote the deep integration of new generation information technology and the real economy,'' said Chen Zhaoxiong, vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology at a technology conference Thursday.
 
''This involves accelerating the integration and application of 5G in industries, transportation, energy, agriculture, education and health,'' Chen said, according to a statement on the ministry's website. Beijing has been pushing for a quick rollout of the technology, and China's state economic planner said in January that developing a 5G network was one of its ''investment priorities'' this year.
 
Without regard to the success of 5G networks at home, Chinese telecom equipment giants have faced regulatory push back offshore. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Monday said it was considering blocking telecom carriers from buying equipment from Chinese tech companies Huawei and ZTE.
 
The U.S. is also threatening crippling sanctions on Huawei, which is anticipated to be a leading player in offering 5G network hardware. Washington has expressed fears that Huawei's equipment could contain security loopholes that allow China to spy on global communications traffic, and has been lobbying European countries to stay clear of it. The company has over and over repeatedly denied the U.S. accusations.
 
TRONSERVE

Published : 5-Nov-2019

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