An exhibitor interacts with a 5G robot at the China Mobile stand in the expo. (Photo by zhang Yongtao / for China Daily)
Meanwhile, according to research company Nomura, China Mobile has awarded its first round of 5G network equipment contracts after China officially granted a 5G license to it on June 6. The company aims to offer 5G commercial services in 40 cities by September.
Xiang Ligang, director-general of Information Consumption Alliance, a telecom industry association, said the moves highlight that China Mobile has a sprawling subscriber base, and it is relatively better funded with cash compared with its rivals.
Major telecom carriers China Unicom and China Telecom also said they are aiming to cover at least 40 cities with 5G services by the end of this year.
But amid the current enthusiasm for the next-generation wireless technology which will power applications such as autonomous driving, some professionals and analysts also give some suggestions.
Zhao Aiming, deputy head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, which regulates State-owned enterprises including telecom carriers, said at a recent conference that network operators should avoid repetitive investments in 5G and pay attention to the potential risks in industrial development.
