Rapid 5G integration transforming real economy, society: MIIT

(ECNS) -- 5G technology has been integrated into 60 of 97 national economic categories after it entered commercial use four years ago, with over 50,000 application cases, said China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

According to the MIIT, by the end of April 2023, more than 2.73 million 5G base stations had been built in China, and the 5G network covered all prefecture-level cities and counties in the country, with 634 million users of 5G mobile phones.

The basic telecommunications industry has invested nearly 600 billion yuan (about $ 83.41 billion) in the 5G network, which drives direct economic output of about 3.8 trillion yuan and indirect economic output of about 9.4 trillion yuan, effectively boosting the digital economy, the ministry said.

5G technology has wide application prospects. China Telecom recently debuted a 5G medical robot, able to perform remote surgeries. Medical experts in Zhejiang can instruct the robot in Beijing via high-definition video link to guide it to finish anatomy, separation, suture, and other steps.

"The customized 5G network guarantees the multi-channel high-definition image transmission at millisecond level, which ensures the accuracy and safety of medical inspection and surgery," said a person in charge of China Telecom, adding that 5G remote surgery has broken down  geographical restrictions and accelerated the clinical application of domestically-made robots.

At the 31st China International Information and Communication Exhibition held in Beijing recently, various innovative 5G applications drew people’s attention.

People can control curtains and home appliances by over 300 voice control points in digital and intelligent living room. All physical indicators appear on the screen immediately after putting on home health monitoring equipment at the digital medical experience exhibition hall. And in the 5G+AI game interactive area, people could play games by logging onto a cloud platform without downloading the game program.

An obstacle-avoidance bracelet for the visually impaired and caption glasses were also exhibited on the exhibition.

“We hope to explore a new mode to protect and improve the lives of the disabled through the power of science and technology,” said a person in charge of China Unicom.

Rapid 5G integration is driving the digital transformation of both the real economy and society.