The first good-enough 5G commercial terminal may make its debut in the middle of 2019, said the spokesperson of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) at a press conference on Tuesday.
China has been active in its promotion of 5G technology. Early this month, Miao Wei, minister of industry and information technology, said that some Chinese cities would get temporary licenses in 2019 to construct large-scale 5G networks.
The third phase of 5G technology R & D tests in China has already been completed by the IMT-2020 (5G) Promotion Group, which was set up by the MIIT in collaboration with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country’s economic planner, and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) in early 2013.
The 5G technology R & D tests organized by the promotion group have accelerated the technological development of companies from different countries, said Wen Ku, director of the telecom development department of the MIIT who also serves as the ministry’s spokesperson.
Last week, this promotion group announced the results of the 5G tests done in 2018, which showed that the existing facilities and products had basically reached the pre-commercial level, but a real 5G commercial terminal has not been out yet, he said.
Related companies are making intensive efforts in their R & D of 5G terminal chips and devices, and at the current pace, they will hopefully unveil a 5G commercial terminal that is good enough in the middle of this year, according to Wen.
Wen said that another major program, which involved Chinese and foreign companies in 5G technology R & D work and tests, also served to boost overall cooperation in this regard.
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