China’s determination to be the first 5G superpower was on show again this month, as the government handed out commercial licences to its three telecoms carriers and a cable television network to roll out the next generation of mobile internet.
The race to 5G has become a focal point in US-China tensions, as China threatens to overtake its rival in building networks that will enable everything from instant film downloads to self-driving cars.
Michelle Wei, telecoms analyst at JPMorgan, said the decision to issue the licences was a show of bravado intended to “send a message to the world that China is capable of pushing forward 5G, and also to motivate domestic supply chain players”.