Countdown begins for 5G commercialization

◆Cindy

China’s 5G commercialization has entered a countdown stage, with certification to be issued by the end of this year at the earliest and major areas in main cities covered with 5G technology by 2020,Securities Dailyreported on Tuesday.

Main areas in Beijing will be covered by 5G technology with a fixed broadband network, Gigabit LTE access capability and broadband rates down 10 percent annually by 2020, said Tan Xuxiang, director of the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission, at a press conference on improving the business environment on Monday.

Current progress in domestic research and development, construction and large-scale field testing of 5G technology shows the goal of starting trials for 5G commercialization in 2019 and complete commercialization of 5G in 2020 can be achieved, said Xiang Ligang, a telecom veteran and CEO of the industry website Cctime.