China's 5G surpasses 1 billion subscribers
According to data released by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the number of 5G mobile subscribers in China exceeded 1 billion at the end of November.
Accordingly, the number of 5G subscribers in China now accounts for 56% of the total number of mobile subscribers, marking a strong increase of 9.4 percentage points over the same period last year.
This figure reflects the rapid development of 5G technology in the world's most populous country, as network operators and governments continuously invest heavily in telecommunications infrastructure, promoting the deployment and widespread application of 5G networks.
Official data shows that by the end of November 2024, China had deployed about 4.2 million 5G base stations, affirming the country's leading position in developing new-generation telecommunications technology.
According to previous industry estimates, the number of these base stations accounts for more than 60% of the total number of 5G base stations globally, an overwhelming proportion compared to other countries.
This reflects China's relentless efforts to build advanced 5G infrastructure, including heavy investment from the government and major telecom corporations to promote the widespread adoption and application of 5G technology in many areas of the economy and life.
China now boasts 29 5G base stations for every 10,000 residents, exceeding the target set in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) ahead of schedule, according to Zhang Yunming, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology.
These 5G networks have achieved widespread coverage, not only covering urban areas but also reaching strategic areas such as public service centers, cultural landmarks, famous tourist attractions, and key transportation corridors.
This achievement not only reflects China's commitment to leading in telecommunications technology, but also opens up new development opportunities in economic, social and cultural fields.
The report also highlights that the Chinese government is actively expanding 5G connectivity to rural and remote areas as part of a comprehensive strategy to narrow the digital divide. These efforts not only help remote communities gain access to advanced technology, but also promote economic development, improve living standards, and create more equal opportunities for people in less developed areas.
MIIT, in collaboration with 11 other government agencies, recently released an action plan to promote the comprehensive expansion and application of 5G by 2027.
The plan focuses on prioritizing consumer-facing applications and sets ambitious goals, including increasing the number of 5G base stations to 38 per 10,000 people; pushing individual 5G user penetration above 85% and ensuring more than 75% of network traffic is transmitted over 5G infrastructure.
These advances not only solidify China's leadership in telecommunications technology, but also lay the foundation for the development of high-tech fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart cities.
The report pointed out that Shanghai, one of China's leading economic hubs, has announced an ambitious three-year strategy to scale up 5G applications by 2026.
This strategy not only focuses on deploying 5G-Advanced (5.5G) technology but also promotes the convergence of 5G and AI to improve efficiency and innovation in many fields.
Accordingly, the specific goals of the strategy include bringing the 5G personal user penetration rate to over 90%, affirming the leading position in popularizing advanced technology.
At the same time, ensuring continuous 5G and 5.5G coverage on low-altitude air routes, opening up application opportunities in areas such as smart transportation and aviation logistics.
This plan not only lays the foundation for breakthrough technological development in Shanghai, but also contributes to shaping the trend of digital transformation across China.
Shanghai also aims to build high-standard advanced manufacturing facilities to optimize 5G applications, while exploring the potential for integrating the technology with emerging fields. These efforts include combining 5G with humanoid robots to enhance automation and applying it to innovative energy systems, paving the way for smart and sustainable solutions in manufacturing and energy.
According to the report'China Mobile Economy 2024'According to the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), China is expected to reach 90% 5G adoption by 2030, cementing its global leadership in the sector. The report also predicts that by 2030, China will have 1.6 billion 5G connections.
This impressive development not only promotes the widespread application of new-generation telecommunications technology but also contributes significantly to the national economy, with an estimated value of about 260 billion USD to China's GDP by 2030.
Additionally, the report revealed that mobile data traffic in China is expected to quadruple by the end of the decade. Currently, China has 1.28 billion unique mobile subscribers, representing an impressive 88% penetration rate.
Furthermore, the country’s advanced mobile ecosystem supports nearly 8 million jobs and contributes $110 billion annually in taxes. In 2023, telecom operators’ revenues reached $225 billion.
GSMA predicts that by the end of this decade, the annual economic contribution from China's mobile sector will exceed $1 trillion, demonstrating the industry's strong growth and growing importance to the national economy.