Harbin scenic spots get access to 5G network

The first batch of 19 scenic areas in Heilongjiang province have completed installation of 5G base stations and finished testing the 5G network, according to information released by the Heilongjiang Communications Administration.

Officials said 10 of the total -- including St. Sophia Church, Harbin Grand Theater, the Central Avenue and the Harbin Ice and Snow World -- are located in Harbin, capital city of Heilongjiang.

The 5G base stations were jointly built by the Heilongjiang branch of China Mobile and China Tower Corporation. China Mobile customers who have 5G mobiles can access the new network through their existing SIM cards, to enjoy the superfast network speed.

A 5G network features improved capacity, high speed and low latency. It will provide strong technological support in the fields of smart medical services, digital entertainment, smart manufacturing, virtual reality, and the internet of things, helping to reduce costs and bring more convenience to people.

Theoretically the peak speed of a 5G network can reach 10 GBps, 100 times the peak rate of a 4G network, signifying that a high-definition movie can be downloaded in a second, according to a staff member of the Heilongjiang Communications Administration.

China Unicom and China Telecom, and another two Chinese telecom operators, have included Harbin among their 5G pilot cities.

It is anticipated that around 800 base stations will be established in Harbin this year, and the number of base stations in Harbin by 2021 will reach 30,000.