The emergence of new technologies, such as the Internet of Things and virtual reality, as well as 5G global standards, mark the approach of 5G mobile communication technology. Compared with its predecessor 4G, 5G boasts higher bandwidth and speed with lower latency. It is able to satisfy people’s ever-growing needs for communication and entertainment, and make networks more intelligent, accelerating the connection of people and things.

The general view holds that the difference from 2G to 4G has been a case of increasingly higher speed, while 5G marks a milestone in the innovation of the mobile communication industry as it can provide customized network services to meet multifarious demands. As an important component of information infrastructure, the great potential of 5G will undoubtedly be realized in the coming years.

Along with the rest of the world, China has been taking part in the race to develop 5G, and has won global recognition with several important patents and examples of the technology put into practice. In the near future, driverless cars and remote surgery will become a reality according to plans released by operators, and 5G will be fully commercialized by 2020.

However, it should be noted that building a 5G network is a complicated and challenging undertaking for operators and other enterprises in the industrial chain, and a process that cannot be completed with one stroke. China’s developers should neither be overconfident nor underestimate themselves, but instead use the development of 5G as a turning point to push national technological innovation and seize the opportunities of the digital age.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article published in Oriental Outlook on July 12)