my country's cumulative investment in 5G network construction exceeds 260 billion

On February 23, the Mobile World Congress in Shanghai opened, and 5G development remained the biggest focus. At the meeting, Liu Liehong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, revealed that China's cumulative investment in 5G network construction has exceeded 260 billion yuan, and the number of 5G base stations that have been built and put into operation accounts for 70% of the world. The 5G network in the SA independent networking mode has also covered all cities and counties across the country.

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Si Han, president of the Greater China region of the organizer Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), said that despite the outbreak, China still added more than 600,000 5G base stations in 2020. According to the "2021 China Mobile Economic Development Report" released by GSMA during the exhibition, as of 2020, the number of 5G terminal connections exceeded 200 million, accounting for 87% of the world. According to forecasts, by 2025, the number of 5G connections is expected to reach more than 800 million.

Liu Liehong also emphasized that 5G empowering the digital development of the industry is the key to the successful commercial use of 5G. Telecommunications operators and 5G application integration solution providers should work together to strengthen international cooperation in the field of 5G security, strengthen the construction of 5G network standards, and implement the Global Data Security Initiative. Accelerate 5G application innovation and seize the major opportunities for the digitalization, networking and intelligent development of the economy and society. Previously, Zhao Zhiguo, spokesman for the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and director of the Information and Communications Administration, also stated at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office that this year, we must focus on three aspects of work, including improving network coverage, application innovation and industrial foundation capabilities.

2019 is the first year of 5G. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council jointly issued the "Implementation Opinions on Promoting the Co-construction and Sharing of Telecommunications Infrastructure in 2019". It particularly emphasizes the promotion of cost reduction and efficiency improvement through the co-construction and sharing of telecommunications infrastructure, including the co-construction and sharing of towers and indoor distribution systems, communication supporting facilities in residential communities and commercial buildings, poles and pipelines. In 2020, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the "Notice on Promoting the Accelerated Development of 5G" (hereinafter referred to as the "Notice"). In terms of network construction and deployment, it clearly proposed to control the construction scale of non-independent networking and support 5G independent networking. In addition, the "Notice" also emphasizes the need to enrich the application scenarios of 5G technology and combine it with medical health, industrial Internet, Internet of Vehicles and other fields.

The guidance of relevant policies will bring more development space and commercial value to 5G. Not long ago, the CCID think tank of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released the "5G Development 2021 Outlook White Paper", which stated that my country will continue to increase its investment in 5G networks in 2021, which is expected to be 1.5-2 times that of 2020. Statistics from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology also predict that during the period of 2020-2025, my country's 5G commercial use will drive a total economic output of 10.6 trillion yuan and directly create an economic added value of 3.3 trillion yuan.

At the beginning of last year, the three major telecom operators mentioned that they expected capital expenditures on 5G in 2020 to exceed 180 billion yuan, of which China's 2020 5G capital expenditure budget is about 45.3 billion yuan, China Mobile's 2020 capital expenditure budget is 179.8 billion yuan, of which 5G-related investment plans are 100 billion yuan. China Unicom's 2020 capital expenditure budget is 70 billion yuan, of which 5G-related investment plans are about 35 billion yuan.

At the China Internet Media Forum last year, Liu Liehong said that 5G will still be in the "introduction stage" in the next three years, and it is necessary to maintain focus and take steady steps. He suggested adhering to a moderately advanced construction pace to form a virtuous model of "building to promote use". With the maturity of technology and the advancement of layout, technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and big data will enter a stage of rapid development.

In this regard, communications expert Xiang Ligang told the Beijing Business Daily reporter: "As the foundation and base of the smart Internet, 5G will have an impact on urban management, mobile medical care, smart homes, smart education and other aspects." He believes that traditional 4G cannot meet the needs of large-scale access, and 5G's mobile Internet capabilities will penetrate into various fields, promote transformation and upgrading, reduce costs, improve efficiency, and thus promote new development.