China's MIIT builds world's largest 5G network

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in China is in the initial stages of building the world's largest 5G network, following an announcement made on Monday.

The organisation predicted that 80 per cent of the total shipments to China in the second half of this year would be made up of 5G-enabled phones.

In a press conference, Liu Liehong, Vice Minister of the MIIT, said: "The country has built a total of 792,000 5G base stations by the end of February this year, with the number of mobile terminals connected to the network reaching 260 million."

Citing data from an international speed measuring agency, Liehong added: "China's mobile network speed ranks fourth among 139 countries and regions."

So far the country has built 792,000 5G base stations, completing the last of them in February this year with the number of network-connected mobile terminals reaching 260mn.

The MIIT hopes to promote the construction and application of 5G networks "in an orderly manner", with additional plans to build a "double gigabit" network infrastructure.

The infrastructure would cover urban areas and towns "where conditions allow" and plans to be completed in three years.