China's 5G mobile network adoption has reached a historic milestone, with subscribers surpassing 1.15 billion as of August 2023, according to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). This figure represents 63.4% of all mobile users in the country, underscoring rapid technological integration across society.
The MIIT reports 4.646 million 5G base stations now operational nationwide, accounting for over one-third of all mobile infrastructure. Zhong Zhihong, MIIT chief engineer, emphasized that 5G has become a cornerstone of industrial modernization: "5G now serves 86 key economic sectors, powering more than 18,500 industrial internet projects. It's driving smart manufacturing and green transformation while creating $3.37 trillion in value through new industries and business models."
Network sharing initiatives have accelerated deployment while reducing costs. Zhang Jingtao of China Telecom's infrastructure group revealed: "Shared 5G infrastructure has saved $53.4 billion in investments and cuts annual carbon emissions by 13 million tonnes." The technology now provides continuous coverage across all township-level regions.
Looking ahead, China plans to upgrade its digital infrastructure through 5G-Advanced networks and 10-gigabit optical systems. This expansion aims to support emerging technologies under the "AI-plus" initiative while maintaining China's position as the world's largest 5G market.
