China expected to have 200 million 5G users by 2020
Chinese brands have launched 5G mobile phones one after another this year, with prices as low as 1,999 yuan (about $285.8). The industry expects flagship devices of all the mobile phone brands to go 5G next year, and for the number of 5G users in China to reach 200 million.
Visitors look at a 5G intelligent application booth at the 2019 World 5G Convention in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 21, 2019. Themed "5G changes the world, 5G creates the future," the 2019 World 5G Convention kicked off Thursday in Beijing. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
Xiaomi's Redmi brand officially launched the Redmi K30 series of phones this month, with a starting price of only 1,999 yuan, making it the only 5G phone on the market priced below 2,000 yuan.
In fact, since ZTE launched the first domestic 5G phone in July this year, mobile phone manufacturers have begun to launch their own 5G models one after another.
Although the price of 5G services is higher, it is expected to decline next year, which will drive the development of the 5G mobile phone market. Handset manufacturers and the supply chain will benefit from the new wave of 5G mobile phones in the next year, said Fang Jing, an electronics industry analyst.
Domestic shipments of 5G mobile phones reached 5.1 million in November, up 103.5 percent month-on-month, according to data released by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.
After lagging behind in terms of 3G technology, China caught up with the world in 4G development and is now seeking to take the lead in 5G. China's communications industry has ushered in its best development stage in history.
Miao Wei, Minister of Industry and Information Technology, revealed at the World 5G Conference in November that 870,000 users signed up for 5G packages less than a month after the three major operators launched them, while Xu Zhijun, Rotating and Acting Chairman of Huawei, predicted that the number of 5G users nationwide would reach 200 million next year.