How do these countries plan their 5G breakthrough amid the COVID-19 crisis?

5G is a new technology field that all countries are competing to deploy in the new era. The construction of smart grids that integrate the two new technologies of 5G and ultra-high voltage transmission is accelerating. After the construction of power energy flow represented by ultra-high voltage, the construction of power information flow represented by new 5G technology is gradually unfolding. Due to its excellent communication characteristics, 5G can realize two-way communication on the distribution side of smart grids, helping the power grid to realize real-time perception, massive transmission, intelligent decision-making and other functions, providing strong guarantee for the information construction of power grids.

However, for the global 5G industry, the first quarter of 2020 did not usher in the expected joy of the "5G Year". Instead, the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic dealt a heavy blow to the supply and consumption ends. Affected by the pandemic, the global 5G promotion was greatly delayed.

[[322977]]

China works to restore production lines

During the epidemic, some leaders are worried about their lack of stamina, while others are anxious about being forced to slow down their construction. At the same time, the need to fight the epidemic has forced many countries to speed up the development of 5G, and many people have seen the role of 5G in helping China fight the epidemic. As an important force in the world's 5G equipment production and market construction, China's gradual control of the domestic epidemic and promotion of resumption of work and production have brought benefits to the entire industry.

As the domestic epidemic is gradually brought under control, China's 5G construction is expected to resume in the second quarter. In general, the production of 5G basic components, telecommunications equipment and terminal equipment is mostly concentrated in China. Thanks to the effective control of the epidemic, the supply chain and production lines will be restored soon, and even to a certain extent, the localization process of key components, especially the RF front end, will be accelerated.

Relevant person in charge said that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will continue to actively support the development of new models and new business forms such as telemedicine, online education, and online office, drive the consumption of smart terminals and services, and accelerate the construction of new infrastructure such as 5G networks, big data, artificial intelligence, industrial Internet, and smart cities.

South Korea worries about losing its leading position

The COVID-19 pandemic is threatening South Korea's leading position in the 5G field. According to Korean media reports, in order to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and further enhance South Korea's information and communication technology, the Ministry of Science and Technology held a meeting that day and emphasized that in order to cope with the development trend after the pandemic, it is now necessary to expand investment in communication infrastructure, cultural industries and other fields, while avoiding the bankruptcy of related small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Korea Information Promotion Agency suggested that the government should attach importance to the construction of infrastructure such as 5G communications from the perspective of coping with the "post-COVID-19 era", especially to strengthen the integration and development of the latest technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing. We should take this epidemic as an opportunity to increase the research and development of core technologies such as online commerce and remote basic industries. Relevant officials believe that after the epidemic, there will be drastic economic and social changes, and South Korea should make good use of the existing digital technology power and actively create new economic growth industries.

South Korean media reported that the Ministry of Science and Technology of South Korea reached a 5G promotion plan with major South Korean telecommunications companies earlier this month, planning to build 5G base stations in more than 2,000 indoor locations such as subway stations and department stores within the year to expand 5G indoor coverage, and will launch 5G independent networking services to ensure that users will not suddenly switch to 4G mode when using 5G services. The South Korean government will also invest 650 billion won to cultivate 5G strategic industries, including 15 fields such as new generation smartphones, AR and VR equipment, self-driving cars, and medical care.

Europe's 5G is forced to slow down

After two consecutive years of decline in the mobile phone industry, Apple originally planned to boost its performance by launching its first 5G mobile phone this fall, but it is not clear whether it can be released as scheduled. Some future services that rely on 5G technology, such as driverless technology, automated factory workshops and smart cities, have been delayed, and the 5G spectrum auctions in Italy, Spain, France and Austria have also been postponed due to the epidemic.

"The epidemic has slowed down the pace of 5G construction in Europe." Local media reported that 2020 was supposed to be the year when EU member states started 5G, and countries were allocating frequency bands and building 5G facilities. But now because of the epidemic, countries' 5G plans have been forced to shelve. Experts say that since the epidemic in Europe may last longer than in Asia, and EU countries have no unified opinion on the selection of 5G equipment suppliers, the EU's 5G construction will lag behind China and other Asian countries by at least one or two years. Recently, the "5G new crown conspiracy theory" circulating in many places in the UK and the Netherlands has even led to the burning of some local base stations, which has cast a shadow on Europe's 5G construction.

German media believe that the epidemic has made Europe realize its own technological gap. For example, Asian countries are using future technologies such as 5G and big data on a large scale, while Europe is obviously lagging behind, making the anti-epidemic effect not high. German Minister of Economy and Energy Altmaier has said that after the epidemic, Germany will re-examine the development of future technologies such as 5G, invest more in research and development, and cooperate with European countries to strengthen the EU's 5G capabilities.

The coronavirus is the beginning of the EU's digital transformation. A leaked EU document shows that the EU should "thoroughly analyze the experience of the coronavirus pandemic" and formulate future policy measures in the digital field. After the current coronavirus crisis, areas such as "e-health, digital education, e-government, data exchange and broadband connectivity" should receive special attention.