5G video calls can't save 5G. The problem with 5G is 5G itself.

The video call function is actually not new. It has been promoted since the 3G era. However, the data transmission rate of 3G was too low and the lag was serious. Ultimately, video calls were not accepted by users. 4G also proposed this function, but due to factors such as privacy and call environment, video calls ultimately did not become a necessary function of 4G.

Now that 5G is pushing this function, there won't be much change. It's just that 5G has lower latency and larger bandwidth, so the 5G video call function will be clearer. However, compared with 4G video calls, there is no fundamental change. How can it be welcomed by consumers?

In contrast, 5G's network coverage is much worse than 4G. The two 5G networks have a total of more than 1.5 million 5G base stations, and each 5G network has more than 700,000 5G base stations. In comparison, China Mobile's 4G network has more than 2.4 million 4G base stations, and the coverage of 4G base stations is much larger than that of 5G base stations. Therefore, the coverage of the 5G network is actually far smaller than that of 4G, and 5G video calls can easily be interrupted due to signal problems.

Another reason why video calls are not accepted is the price. It is not clear how much 5G video calls will cost, but it will be more expensive than voice calls. However, voice calls are decreasing, so will more expensive video calls be accepted? What's more, consumers can use free WeChat video calls, and they won't use free ones.

In fact, the main reason why 5G has not been quickly accepted is the 5G technology itself. First, the coverage of 5G base stations based on the medium frequency band is too small, and the penetration and diffraction capabilities of 5G signals are too weak. 5G signals are easily blocked in areas with 5G networks. There is basically no 5G signal in urban stairwells, toilets and other areas.

Secondly, the construction and operation costs of 5G base stations are too high. Due to the high costs and expensive electricity bills, operators have to shut down 5G networks during idle periods, resulting in the three major operators not being enthusiastic about the construction of 5G networks. As mentioned above, 5G has been commercially available for two and a half years, and the number of base stations in each 5G network is only more than 700,000. China Mobile built more than 700,000 4G base stations in the first year of commercial 4G. It can be seen how slow the progress of 5G network construction is.

Secondly, the expensive 5G charges and poor experience have hindered the popularization of 5G. In more than two years, with the active promotion of operators, the number of 5G package users has grown to more than 800 million, but there are only more than 400 million 5G network users, which is only half of the 5G package users; the poor 5G experience has led to users who have purchased 5G mobile phones being unwilling to use the 5G network, which can be seen from the fact that the number of 5G network users is nearly 100 million less than the cumulative sales of 5G mobile phones.

Now, when operators see that mid-band 5G is difficult to achieve the goal of nationwide coverage, China Mobile and China Broadcasting Corporation have begun to build 5G networks using the 700MHz prime frequency band. It is estimated that 480,000 700MHz 5G networks can fully cover the entire country, which further highlights the drawbacks of mid-band 5G networks and the reluctance of operators to use mid-band 5G to build a nationwide 5G network.

In general, many applications envisioned by 5G have not become a reality so far. Instead, operators have made some money from mobile phone users by relying on the gimmick of 5G by increasing package prices. Mobile phone users are still the main source of income for operators, and the Internet of Things has only contributed about 10 billion in revenue to China Mobile. For mobile phone users, 4G is enough.