Chinese residents are stepping into a new era of connectivity as the country’s 5G-Advanced (5G-A) network rapidly expands. Offering speeds up to ten times faster than standard 5G, this technological leap is transforming daily life and revolutionizing industries across the Chinese mainland.
Also known as 5.5G by some manufacturers, 5G-A represents a significant enhancement over existing networks, boasting improvements in capacity, speed, latency, and positioning. With maximum download rates reaching up to 10 gigabytes per second, 5G-A supports demanding applications like extended reality (XR) and naked-eye 3D holographic imagery.
Upload speeds are also soaring, enabling mass cloud data transfers and making once futuristic concepts like holographic communication a reality. The impact of 5G-A is profound, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, transportation, and manufacturing.
“Based on faster connections, 5G-A enables immersive interaction,” said Xu Chang, deputy general manager of the communication industry research center at CCID Consulting. “It can be applied to extended reality, holographic communication, cloud gaming, and other scenarios, offering immersive experiences to users.”
The advanced network supports vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications with millisecond-level latency, greatly improving real-time traffic feedback and safety. In public services, 5G-A enhances response speeds in emergency communications and remote healthcare, bringing critical support to communities.
Beyond public applications, 5G-A is delivering a new wave of transformation for traditional industries. Its massive connectivity and ultra-low latency enable intelligent automation, efficient device coordination, and real-time data sharing across supply chains. This evolution is boosting productivity, reducing operational costs, and enhancing overall efficiency.
“With the integration of communication, sensing, computing, and intelligence, 5G-A is evolving from a communications tool into a powerful productivity engine,” Xu Chang added. “It empowers countless industries and reshapes various sectors, providing robust infrastructure support for future technologies such as artificial intelligence and brain-computer interfaces.”
China’s major telecommunication operators are moving swiftly toward commercial deployment of the 5G-A network. According to industry experts, they have already deployed test networks across all 31 provinces and regions, with an initial capacity to support 50 million users. The technology has also been verified in other regions around the world, including Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.
China Mobile plans to invest nearly 10 billion yuan (about $1.4 billion) this year to expand AI-based applications in its 5G-A wireless network and upgrade over 400,000 base stations. Other providers like China Telecom are piloting 5G-A solutions across multiple industries, while China Unicom aims to activate 5G-A in 39 key cities and over 300 urban application zones, covering key scenarios including the Internet of Things (IoT), Internet of Vehicles (IoV), and the industrial internet.
Currently, China Mobile has announced 100 pilot cities supporting 5G-A networks, with plans to expand coverage to over 300 cities nationwide by the end of this year. In Beijing alone, thousands of 5G-A base stations have been established.
“Over 7,000 5G-A base stations have been launched in Beijing, providing widespread coverage within the Sixth Ring Road and key areas,” said Wang Juan, manager of a China Mobile store in Beijing’s Shijingshan District.
According to staff from China’s major telecommunication operators, most mainstream smartphone models on the market are already compatible with 5G-A networks. This compatibility allows users to enjoy faster speeds without incurring additional charges, bringing the benefits of advanced connectivity to millions.
