People's Posts and Telecommunications News:

2023 is the last year of the three-year (2021-2023) action plan for promoting 5G applications. What has been achieved in China's 5G development? What are the priorities for the next step?

Zhao Zhiguo:

Thank you for your questions. Representing a new generation of information and communication technology, 5G has become an important driving force for high-quality economic and social development. The MIIT has conscientiously implemented the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, continued to promote the in-depth integration of 5G into all fields of economic and social development, and achieved positive results in the innovative development of 5G applications. 

First, the development environment has continuously improved. We have fully implemented the three-year action plan, organized all parties of the industry to speed up the network construction, expand integrated applications, and promote application innovation and innovative development of mobile communications. According to incomplete statistics, over 900 related policies and measures have been rolled out across the country, forming strong synergies featuring multi-departmental cooperation, coordination between central and local governments, and industrial collaboration. 

Second, the digital foundation has been continuously strengthened. By the end of September, China had built 3.189 million 5G base stations, covering all prefecture-level cities and county seats, and there were 22.6 5G stations per 10,000 Chinese people. Over 90% of 5G base stations have been jointly built and shared, and progress has been made in promoting the intensive, efficient, green, and low-carbon development of 5G networks. The number of virtual private networks in the 5G industry has exceeded 20,000, providing stable, reliable, and secure network facilities for the industry.

Third, the empowerment effect has been increasingly prominent. 5G applications have covered the 67 major categories of the national economy, with the number of application cases exceeding 94,000. Applications of 5G in vertical industries, such as industry, mining, the power sector, and ports, have been widely replicated, helping enterprises improve quality, reduce costs, and increase efficiency. New applications based on 5G, such as Ultra HD videos and AR/VR, have further integrated into production and people's lives to improve user experience. 

Fourth, innovation capability has continuously improved. We have actively promoted the formulation of 5G international standards. By the end of September this year, China's 5G standard essential patent (SEP) declarations accounted for 42% of the world's total, providing its solutions to promoting global 5G development. We issued a notice on promoting the evolution of 5G lightweight (RedCap) technology and application innovation and development and have jointly promoted the innovative development of lightweight 5G base stations, chips, and terminal industries. We have given full play to the advantages of wide coverage and strong penetration of low-frequency bands, refarming 800MHz and 900MHz bands for 5G public mobile communication systems to better utilize spectrum resources.

The next step will be to focus on three aspects, including construction, application, and research, using 5G to empower the real economy and providing strong support for high-quality economic development. First, we will further develop the networks. The development of the 5G networks will be steadily stepped up, enhancing supply capacities for 5G and raising service standards. Second, we will accelerate and promote its application. We will enhance 5G integrated applications, promote individual and industrial applications simultaneously, push forward the development of the 5G+industrial internet driven by innovation and facilitate 5G application on a large scale. Third, we will deepen technological research. We will strengthen 5G industrial support and systematically push forward the R&D and industrialization of 5G chips, modules, terminals, and other key devices, supporting the industrial evolution and upgrades. We will target the key point of 6G technological R&D, strive to make key technological breakthroughs, and enhance technological reserves, laying a solid foundation for its standard establishment and industrial development. Thanks.