China Issues 5G Licenses as Race to Build Networks Heats Up
- Accelerated process may give local gear makers a boost
- Huawei equipment essential in world’s biggest wireless market
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China approved four operating licenses for 5G networks, setting the stage for the super-fast telecommunications system amid simmering tensions with the U.S. over technology and trade.
The country’s three state-owned wireless carriers and China Broadcasting Network Corp. were granted licences for full commercial deployment, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said Thursday. The operators, China Mobile Ltd., China Telecom Corp. and China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd., have been testing the technology in several cities including Beijing and Shenzhen.