China Unicom has announced its 5G-Advanced Action Plan, aiming to roll out 5G-Advanced services in the central areas of 39 key cities and locations in over 300 other cities by the end of 2025.
As part of this initiative, China Unicom will launch the 5G-Advanced Xinghuo Program and 5G-Advanced Baichuan Program to drive the establishment of AI-powered industry applications. Additionally, the company plans to curate a device ecosystem alliance to foster innovation and collaboration, accelerating the development of the 5G-Advanced ecosystem.
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Creating a Digital China
Currently, China Unicom operates more than 2 million 5G base stations, serving 290 million users. Wang Limin, China Unicom’s Deputy General Manager, mentioned that they are using 5G-Advanced and F5G-Advanced technologies to provide high-speed, intelligent, and secure 10 Gbps communication services for the Asian Winter Games. They plan to work with partners to build the 5G-Advanced ecosystem and contribute to creating a digital China.
Cao Ming, Vice President of Huawei, and President of Huawei Wireless Solutions, highlighted that the integration of 5G-Advanced and artificial intelligence (AI) in the mobile industry will facilitate the creation of new experiences, applications, and services. Huawei aims to optimize spectrum resources, improve network performance, and reduce the cost per bit. They also plan to build Level 4 autonomous networks using digital sites and wireless AI agents.
Enhancing Broadcast Connectivity
As the official partner of the 9th Asian Winter Games, China Unicom is leveraging cutting-edge technologies to provide high-speed, stable, and reliable networks for the event. They have a 1,000-member network assurance team ensuring 10 Gbps 5G-Advanced networks at key venues. This enhances broadcast services with innovative features like multi-channel, high-definition (HD) live streaming and virtual reality (VR) broadcasting.
In November, 2024, China Unicom Beijing and Huawei launched the world's first large-scale integrated 5G-Advanced intelligent network. This network covers Beijing's central area, the Workers' Stadium, and the Great Wall scenic area, supporting innovative applications like immersive video and ultra-high-definition (UHD) shallow compression. Self-provisioning and self-optimizing 5G-Advanced sites have been established in these areas, showcasing the technology's futuristic potential.
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