MIIT pushes 5G tech experiment phase

The second phase of experimental work on fifth generation (5G) mobile networks is expected to be finished by the end of 2017, said an official from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the country's telecom regulator.

The first phase of 5G's research and testing, concentrated on key wireless and network technologies, was finished in September, with the participation of major telecom companies, including Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, Ericsson AB, ZTE Corp, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Nokia Corp, said Wen Ku, director of the telecom development department in the ministry.

In 2013, the government established the IMT-2020 (5G) Promotion Group to boost systematic promotion of 5G. The experimental stage of 5G will last three years from 2016 to 2018, before being commercially rolled out in 2020.