Phoenix TV:

In June 2022, China Broadnet held the launch ceremony for 5G network services. Over the past year, how has the development of 5G broadcasting progressed? Also, what are the key areas of focus for the next steps in the integration of national cable TV networks and the integrated development of 5G broadcasting? Thank you.

Cao Shumin:

Thank you for the questions. It has been more than a year since China Broadnet launched 5G services, and there has been considerable interest from various parties. I would like to invite Mr. Yang to answer the questions.

Yang Guorui:

Thank you to the reporter for your interest. Promoting the integration of national cable TV networks and the integrated development of 5G broadcasting is one of the key tasks outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan. By the end of 2020, China Broadnet successfully completed the integration of 23 non-listed and one listed provincial network companies, achieving new results in unifying networks nationwide. On June 27, 2022, China Broadnet officially launched 5G services, establishing a new development pattern of China's broadcasting networks that integrates cable services and 5G technology.

This past year, the development of 5G broadcasting has started well. There has been ongoing deepening of the "co-construction and sharing" strategic cooperation with China Mobile. Through this collaboration, a total of 578,000 700MHz 5G base stations have been built, and the total number of usable base stations (including 700MHz base stations and 5G/4G base stations shared with China Mobile) now exceeds 3.8 million. This achievement has enabled continuous coverage in administrative regions at and above the township level and effective coverage in rural areas. The number of China Broadnet's 5G users has surpassed 18 million. By the end of June 2023, China Broadnet had opened and launched three nationwide basic business network platforms: the fixed voice service network, the internet backbone network and the content integration platform. This has further enhanced the communications model integrating cable services and 5G technology. 

Next, the NRTA will guide China Broadnet to pursue a path of characteristic and differentiated development, focusing on the following five areas:

First, strengthening our foundation and upgrading networks. We will guide China Broadnet to continue deepening cooperation with China Mobile in co-construction and sharing, continuously optimizing the urban and rural 5G broadcasting network coverage, accelerating the transformation and upgrading of the cable TV network, enhancing the deep integration with cloud computing, data centers and edge computing, improving the end-to-end performance of the cable TV network, and creating a new type of broadcasting network.

Second, achieving fixed-mobile convergence and building a comprehensive business operation system. We will guide China Broadnet to coordinate the utilization of the four major business network platforms — namely the 5G service network, fixed voice service network, internet backbone network, and content integration and broadcast control platform — and to develop a comprehensive business model integrating cable TV, 5G technology, broadband network, and voice service with everything possible, to better cater to people's diverse and multi-level spiritual and cultural needs.

Third, upholding tradition while innovating and cultivating distinctive advantages in content. We will guide China Broadnet to strengthen construction of the dedicated national cultural network, focus on gathering various content resources, reconstruct the process of content dissemination and distribution, and innovate product forms. By using unique content to drive business upgrades, the aim is to build a new communications pattern that spans screens, domains, networks and terminals. 

Fourth, optimizing services and improving customer service efficiency. We will guide China Broadnet to continuously improve the combination of online and offline channels and customer service systems, further enhance the quality of broadcasting network products, improve capabilities to provide better services, enhance the precision and intelligence of services, and strive to elevate the user service experience.

Fifth, deepening integration and optimizing the operation pattern of a unified network. We will guide China Broadnet to further unify networks at both national and provincial level, and improve the operational management system based on "unified construction, unified management, unified standards and unified branding" to achieve scale and efficiency and thus realize high-quality development.

Thank you.