China’s three major state telecom operators rolled out 5G wireless technology Thursday, as the country races to narrow its technology gap with the US amid a bruising trade war.
China Mobile, the country’s largest carrier, announced its 5G services were available in 50 cities — including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen — with packages starting from 128 yuan (USD 18) a month.
Rivals China Telecom and China Unicom are also offering services at comparable prices in major cities, according to notices on their websites.
The ultra-fast mobile internet service — which is 100 times faster than existing 4G networks— allows consumers to download full-length films within seconds, or use apps with virtual reality.