Huangpu and China Mobile ink deal for 5G

China Mobile's Shanghai branch yesterday signed a memorandum of collaboration with the Huangpu District government to push forward a pilot operation of the 5G mobile network in the city's downtown areas.

Key areas and popular destinations such as the Bund, Nanjing Road and People's Square will be covered with commercial 5G networks.

But a specific timetable was not available.

The two parties will also push forward the adoption of 5G technologies in the areas of urban governance and community management, as well as social and business services.

The aim is to build an innovative demonstration zone.

Residential neighborhoods would be equipped with one-gigabyte broadband bandwidth.

And office buildings will also enjoy 10-gigabyte broadband.

Huangpu District also hopes to raise industry competitiveness and to support innovative companies in the areas of artificial intelligence and health care to ride the booming trend of information technology.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is aiming to issue temporary 5G licenses in selected cities around the country this year.

The pilot programs would allow consumers in those locations access to the first batch of 5G smartphones and tablet computers in the second half of this year, according to Minister Miao Wei.