Over 600,000 5G base stations to be built in 2021

China will build more than 600,000 5G base stations in 2021, as the nation scrambles to accelerate the rollout of the wireless technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the nation's top industry regulator, said.

The plan came as China has already constructed more than 700,000 5G base stations so far, with 5G signals available in more than 300 cities at prefecture level and above in the nation.

Xiao Yaqing, minister of industry and information technology, said at a working conference on Monday that in 2021, the ministry will promote the construction and application of 5G networks in an orderly manner, accelerate the 5G coverage in major cities and advance co-construction and sharing of 5G base stations among telecom operators.

Xiao said more efforts will be made to carry out industrial private 5G network pilot projects, by focusing on 10 key industries and forming 20 typical industrial application scenarios.

Xiao added that the ministry will also release 5G millimeter wave frequency plans for some frequency bands at the proper time.

The senior official also said more efforts will also made to optimize and upgrade the network, increase the number of gigabit network users to more than 200 million, and crack down on the infringement of user rights and interests by apps.