Imagine downloading a full HD movie in seconds or running a remote surgery with zero lag… That’s the power of 5G, and in the Chinese mainland, it's no longer sci-fi. As of August, the number of 5G mobile phone users has skyrocketed to 1.154 billion, making up 63.4 percent of all mobile subscribers, data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) show.
Behind the scenes, 4.646 million 5G base stations—over one-third of the nation’s mobile sites—are humming away. This massive build-out means 5G now covers 86 key sectors of the economy. Zhong Zhihong, MIIT’s chief engineer, highlights more than 18,500 5G-plus industrial internet projects driving smart, green upgrades in manufacturing. Under the AI-plus banner, new industries, business formats, and models have boomed, with their combined value topping 24 trillion yuan (around $3.37 trillion).
And it doesn’t stop there. The Chinese mainland is pushing next-gen digital infrastructure with gigabit networks, pilot trials of 5G-Advanced and 10-gigabit optical links. Thanks to co-construction and sharing, the nation rolled out the world’s largest shared 5G network. Zhang Jingtao from China Telecom notes over 1.5 million base stations now deliver continuous coverage at township level and above—saving more than 380 billion yuan in investments and cutting carbon emissions by 13 million tonnes yearly. 🌱
With 5G at the heart of its digital future, the Chinese mainland is setting the pace for a connected, innovative world. Stay tuned as the next wave of breakthroughs unfolds! 🚀
Reference(s):
Number of 5G mobile phone users in China surpasses 1.15 billion
cgtn.com
