(Yicai Global) Jan. 31 -- China's research and development and testing of 5G mobile technology have entered the third phase, with 2018 is set to be a crucial year to establish its standard and develop commercial products.

China will formulate the standard, and conduct research and development and testing simultaneously, said Zhang Feng, chief engineer at the ministry of industry and information technology in a press conference yesterday. Entering the third phase in research and development will enable Chinese 5G systems and equipment to be pre-commercial, setting a good basis for follow-up experiment and testing, Zhang explained.

When asked whether China could become the world's first major country to introduce 5G technology, Zhang said that the "3rd Generation Partnership Project," or 3GPP, international umbrella organization for telecommunications standard development associations, will complete formulation of the first version of the international 5G standard in June 2018. China began 5G research and development and testing in early 2016.

Apart from Chinese manufacturers, international manufacturers are also actively developing and testing 5G, and the ministry of industry and information technology will continue its guiding role to help boost 5G's eventual commercial application and lead the industry to develop in a rapid and steady manner.

China's 4G users now reach nearly one billion, accounting for about 70 percent of the total population, which is higher than the average level in developed countries. China Telecom Corporation Ltd., one of China's three big communication operators, plans to carry out 5G experiment in several cities to get prepared for the trial commercial use in 2019, said Liu Guiqing, vice general manager of the company, last month.

Other two major operators, China Mobile Ltd. and China United Network Communications Ltd., better known as China Unicom, participated in formulation of the 5G new interface international standard. The two companies are expected to achieve large-scale commercial application of 5G by 2020.