Impacts of mmWave 5G in China

5G’s higher speeds and lower latencies enable new applications that were previously unattainable under earlier generations of mobile technology. These 5G networks need a combination of spectrum in three ranges—sub-1 GHz, 1-6 GHz, and above 6 GHz — to fully maximize their capabilities. Each range offers distinct performance characteristics that will help China deliver on its vision for 5G. The assignment of 5G mmWave spectrum in the latter range, between 24 GHz and 86 GHz, will provide the increased bandwidth and capacity that numerous 5G applications require. This spectrum range is expected to play a key role in meeting the demand for enhanced mobile data services as well as new use cases.

This report, published by the GSMA and authored by TMG, comprises 15 case studies of 5G-powered applications for verticals, including industrial manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, education, content and more. These deployments serve to demonstrate the 5G opportunity for vertical customers in China and elsewhere. Contributing companies include China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, Datang Mobile, Ericsson, Haier, Huawei, Migu, Nokia Shanghai Bell and ZTE, among others.

• Published: March 2020