5G universal access requires reasonable development and support from multiple parties

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Recently, the three major domestic operators have successively launched 5G commercial packages, all of which have adopted a similar strategy of "tightening 4G and promoting 5G", merging some 4G packages with 5G packages, or directly removing some low-priced 4G packages from the APP. The 4G packages that once occupied a prominent position in the APP have been replaced by various 5G packages. Consumers generally expressed confusion about the market strategy of operators to promote 5G, but in my opinion, such pricing is a necessary stage in the development of 5G commercialization, which requires cooperation from multiple parties and common development.

The 5G packages announced by the three major operators currently have no difference in the price system. China Unicom and China Telecom start at 129 yuan, while China Mobile starts at 128 yuan. Basically, the lowest price of the package is not less than 128 yuan, and the model is not much different. They all adopt the strategy of speed grading. At the same time, the traffic and call duration included in the 5G packages of the same price tier of the three operators are not much different. For example, the traffic included in the lowest package of the three operators is 30GB. The only difference is the call duration. In the industry where instant messaging APP is king, the call duration itself is a bit tasteless.

In addition, in order to attract users, the three operators have also launched many additional products for 5G package users. For example, China Telecom launched five major 5G applications, including Tianyi UHD, cloud games, cloud VR, cloud computers and cloud disks; China Unicom launched 5G video membership privileges such as VR, 4K ultra-clear, AR, video ringtones, as well as privileges such as Wo Reading and Wo Music. Therefore, when choosing a 5G package, users mainly consider the two factors of "who can provide faster Internet speeds at the same price + who can give more additional products". Whether to replace 5G terminals, a large number of users are still waiting and watching. As of the end of October this year, the number of 5G terminal connections in my country has exceeded 160 million, but it is still insufficient compared to the huge population base. How to convert potential users who are still waiting and watching is very important.

The arrival of 5G is an epoch-making technological innovation. Although 5G networks consume a lot of power, and it takes time to improve their technical level and coverage, the development of 5G will bring profound changes to all walks of life. At present, the price of operators' 5G packages seems to be high, with a price of more than 100 yuan or more than 200 yuan. Operators may need more than 300 yuan or more than 400 yuan to maintain the profitability of 4G. The reasons for operators' pricing are mainly as follows: First, operators are under great pressure to return on investment in 5G construction. The high energy consumption problem of 5G base stations cannot be ignored, and the entire industry is actively seeking solutions. Second, in the early stage of 5G commercial use, the number of users is still small, and "killer" applications also need to increase. At this stage, if operators want to maintain profits in the 4G era, they need several times the phone bills and traffic revenue. Third, terminals are the bottleneck for large-scale commercial use of 5G. At present, there are not many 5G mobile phones to choose from. Although there are several prices close to 4G, most prices are still difficult to be affordable, and stability and standby time have not yet met public expectations. Mid- and low-end terminals are the mainstream of large-scale commercial use, and they need to be developed with greater efforts.

The official launch of 5G commercial packages marks the beginning of the popularization of 5G in China. As 5G commercial use gradually expands, 5G package rates will tend to normalize. There will be more "affordable" 5G packages available for users to choose from, and the "high price" label of 5G packages will gradually be removed. The launch of 5G commercial packages is of great significance to leading terminal manufacturers such as Huawei and vivo, and will mobilize consumers' demand for 5G terminal equipment. This is the driving force for terminal manufacturers to increase their investment in product research and development and innovation.

The current problems encountered by 5G networks in terms of coverage and tariffs require the support of the state, follow-up by operators, and the assistance of mobile terminal manufacturers. "Tightening 4G and promoting 5G" is in line with the laws of the consumer market. For operators, promoting 5G packages in line with market development requires a careful approach, so as not to cause resistance from users, and a smooth transition is required. Compared with 4G, the main advantage of 5G is barrier-free areas and high-density user coverage. For example, with the same optical fiber pulled to the base station, the 5G base station carries more users than the 4G base station. As long as the bandwidth is sufficient to ensure that all users are online, 5G base stations are more economical for crowded places such as stations, airports, and stadiums. In the vast rural areas, low-frequency 5G also has good coverage, and has advantages in carrying the number of users compared to 3G and 4G. For operators, 5G should be deployed according to local conditions, and the technical characteristics of 5G high bandwidth, low latency, and large connections should be fully utilized to improve network quality, reduce operating costs, and increase application scenarios. The cost has not increased, the application has increased, and the number of users will naturally increase.