(Yicai Global) Aug. 6 -- Shanghai is rapidly advancing the construction of its fifth-generation wireless network.

The city had installed more than 25,000 5G base stations outdoors and over 31,000 indoors as of the end of last month, including in airports and subway stations, Zhang Jianming, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Information, said today.

China’s financial capital will have more than 30,000 outside and 50,000 inside by the end of the year, he said at an industry forum.

The seaboard megacity has started 5G construction in the main areas of Pudong and Hongqiao airports and the halls and platforms of 297 subway stations, planning to wrap up work before the China International Import Expo kicks off in November. It will also finish 5G deep coverage in major commercial districts including the upscale Nanjing East Road shopping district, downtown Xujiahui and riverside Lujiazui financial district by the end of this year, Zhang said.

“China’s 5G construction will greatly boost the rapid growth of the entire 5G industry chain’s production scale,” Yang Chaobin, president of Huawei's 5G product line, said at the forum. “5G’s large bandwidth, low latency, and multiple connections enable the digitization of various sectors.” 

The country’s three main telecoms operators have opened 400,000 5G stations so far, and the number of users of the new standard exceeded 100 million as of the end of June, Yang said. He predicted that the two figures will reach 800,000 and 200 million by year-end, both representing more than 70 percent of the world’s total.

Shanghai is also promoting 5G demonstration applications in Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, Yangshan Port’s smart heavy-duty trucks, Huashan Hospital, Xuhui Middle School and other industrial and commercial settings.

Editor: Ben Armour