Seize the critical period for large-scale application of 5G

As of the end of April, more than 1.6 million 5G base stations have been built, making my country the first country in the world to build a 5G network on a large scale based on the independent networking model; the total number of 5G mobile phone users has reached a new high, exceeding 413 million; the number of 5G standard essential patents declared by Chinese companies remains the world's leading; the integration of national cable TV networks and the integrated development of radio and television 5G construction have made new breakthroughs, and my country's radio and television networks have initially formed a new pattern of "cable + 5G" integrated development... On the third anniversary of the issuance of 5G licenses, the "Chinese speed" of 5G construction has once again attracted worldwide attention. The development of 5G has reached a new level, not only promoting the leapfrog growth of the information and communication industry, but also injecting strong impetus into the digital transformation of the economy and society.

Looking back on the past, from following 2G to breaking through 3G and then to synchronizing with 4G, my country has now made a historic breakthrough in the goal of leading 5G. This leadership is not only reflected in the scale of 5G network construction speed and the total number of 5G users, but also deeply integrated into different scenarios in thousands of industries. For example, the 5G network goes deep into the mine, and real-time signals shuttle between the vertical and horizontal rocks with low latency, allowing the ground and the underground to be linked in an orderly manner; the entire climbing route from the base camp to the summit of Mount Everest has achieved 5G continuous coverage, allowing uninterrupted communications on the plateau; 5G supports long-distance communications between sea and land, opening up new channels for high-speed and stable transmission of large traffic between offshore oilfield platforms. Facing multiple industries such as industry, medical care, education, transportation, and mining, 5G application cases have accumulated more than 20,000, covering 40 major categories of the national economy. In the past three years, 5G has expanded commercial scenarios at an unexpected speed and has made great strides into the critical period of large-scale application.

To analyze the development potential of emerging things, we need to have a long-term perspective. Over the past three years, my country has adhered to the principle of moderate advancement to promote use, actively and steadily promoted the construction of 5G networks, and released surging economic vitality. In 2019, it exceeded 40 billion yuan, in 2020 it exceeded 170 billion yuan, and in 2021 it reached 184.9 billion yuan... In the three years since the issuance of licenses, 5G investment has risen rapidly and set new highs. Not only that, the vigorous development of 5G has accelerated the pace of digital transformation of the industry. According to estimates, 5G will directly drive a total economic output of 1.3 trillion yuan in 2021. At a time when my country's economic development is facing the triple pressure of demand contraction, supply shocks, and weaker expectations, 5G construction has provided important support for stabilizing investment and growth, and has become a powerful engine driving the high-quality development of China's economy. The integration of 5G and the industrial Internet will accelerate the construction of a digital China and a smart society, accelerate China's new industrialization process, inject new impetus into China's economic development, and create new development opportunities for the world economy.

Construction promotes use, and use is the key. At present, a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is advancing in depth, and information technology is changing with each passing day. It should be noted that my country's 5G applications are still in development as a whole, and still face many challenges such as insufficient application scenarios, a need to consolidate the industrial foundation, and the need to strengthen the integration effect. Grasping the key period of large-scale application, fully releasing the enabling role of 5G in the development of the digital economy, and promoting construction with use and building and using simultaneously are the keys to ensure that my country's 5G will continue to move forward steadily and lead the way.

On the one hand, only by continuously integrating upward and taking the lead can the application ecosystem prosper. At present, 5G applications in some leading industries have entered the growth stage, and they should be promoted in stages according to different industries to continuously expand the breadth and depth of 5G applications. Based on and guided by existing mature industry applications, a number of high-level leading application benchmarks should be established, and mature applications can be accelerated to be replicated and promoted to thousands of industries by accumulating general capabilities and making up for technical shortcomings. On the other hand, only by continuously taking root downward and working together can the industrial foundation be strengthened. The digitalization levels and development stages of different industries and enterprises are not the same, and the needs vary greatly. We should continuously strengthen the adaptation and support of 5G technology to industry needs to meet diversified and personalized needs. Only when the roots are deep can the leaves be lush, and only when the source is far can the flow be long. To strengthen the industrial foundation of 5G, we still need to focus on key problems such as communication chips and devices, form a joint force in the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain, eliminate industry barriers, carry out technical research, and accelerate the digital transformation of the industry.

Today's China has a huge market and rich application scenarios, which not only constitutes the advantages of my country's 5G development, but also puts forward higher requirements for 5G's network capabilities and technological innovation. By seizing the key period of 5G large-scale application, striving to consolidate the foundation and expand the application boundaries, we will surely enable 5G to better empower the real economy and write a new chapter on the road to becoming a strong country.