China Mobile ready to launch 5G devices next year

China Mobile Communications Corp will launch fifth-generation devices in the first half of next year, a top executive confirmed on Thursday.

"China Mobile will launch 5G smartphones in the first half of 2019, as part of the push for 5G precommercial trials in 2019 and commercialization by 2020," said Li Huidi, vice-president of the major telecommunication carrier.

The company is set to roll out customer premises equipment in the first quarter of next year, he added.