Chinese firms gain lead in the race for 5G edge

Nation evolving from follower in 3G era to active participant that seeks to outcompete foreign companies

Chinese telecom firms have scored a point in the global race to set standards for 5G, the fifth-generation mobile communication technology that will allow consumers to download an 8-gigabit movie in seconds.

China Mobile Communications Corp, the world's largest telecom carrier by subscribers - with 845 million subscribers by October, beat foreign competitors in late November to lead the 5G System Architecture project, which will determine the "structure of 5G networks".