5G expands at rapid clip in Guangdong

Guangdong province, an economic powerhouse in South China, is accelerating development of 5G, with 8,949 base stations already established by the end of June according to sources at an industrial conference.

According to the 5G Innovation and Development Conference, which was held on Sunday in the provincial capital of Guangzhou, Guangdong's 5G companies — Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corporation — occupy up to 75 percent of the nation's 5G market.

The province's 5G industrial output is expected to reach more than 300 billion yuan ($43.6 billion) by 2020, according to an action plan on development of the province's 5G industry.

"As part of booming technologies, the 5G will be used more in the internet of things sector," said Sun Yu, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

In Guangzhou's Huangpu district, 5G has already been implemented in commercial sectors, such as smart parking areas, automatic driving tests and bus operations.

The district is expected to build 5,000 5G bases by the end of 2019, according to sources with the district government.