China Mobile also plans to promote the release of over 20 5G-A compatible phones during 2024

Chinese carrier China Mobile plans to launch 5G-Advanced (5G-A) technology in over 300 cities across China this year, according to local press reports.

The telco, which claims a leading role in the development of 5G-A standards, also plans to promote the release of over 20 5G-A compatible phones within the year.

To showcase its new 5G-A network, China Mobile has established 5G-A demonstration halls in various locations across China. The carrier said that customers with the OPPO Find X7 Ultra smartphone can visit these halls to experience the 5G-A technology, according to the report.

China Mobile’s vice president, Gao Tongqing, stated that this launch will further accelerate the development of new information infrastructure and unlock the full potential of 5G technology. The carrier also said it aims to achieve widespread adoption of 5G-A technology in China through partnerships with manufacturers and chip suppliers.

The report also noted that Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are among the first cities where China Mobile will activate the new technology.

China Mobile ended last year with a total of 465 million 5G subscribers, up 42.1% year-on-year and reported a net addition of 138 million 5G subscribers during 2023.

The company’s net profit last year increased 5% year-on-year to CNY131.7 billion ($18.3 billion) while the telco’s operating revenue grew by 6.3% year-on-year to CNY863.5 billion. In the mobile segment, the telco reached a total of 991 million subscribers at the end of 2023, up 1.6% year-on-year.

Capital expenditure totaled CNY180.3 billion, accounting for 20.9% of telecommunications services revenue and decreasing by 1.9 percentage points year-on-year.

China had 11.6 million mobile communication base stations as of the end of last year, of which 3.4 million were 5G base stations. 5G base stations currently account for 29% of total mobile base stations in China. The ratio is 7.8 percentage points higher compared to the end of 2022.