World’s Largest 5G Network Rolls Out in China

On October 31, the three main Chinese mobile carriers debuted 5G phone services, a milestone in the country’s push to become a global technology power. The operators had planned to start the networks in 2020, but accelerated the roll out just as the US dug in on a boycott of China-based 5G equipment supplier Huawei.

10 million 5G customers have preregistered for 5G networks run by the three carriers, according to media reports. China Unicom offers a 5G monthly tariff package of 129 yuan ($18) including 30GB of data, which does not require the users to change their SIM cards or phone numbers, media reports said. Rivals China Mobile and China Telecom also introduced their services at comparable rates.

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Compared to 5G packages in other countries, the ones offered by Chinese carriers come at a much lower cost. In South Korea, for instance, the local carrier LG Uplus offers three 5G packages with 9GB for $49 per month, 150GB for $66 per month, and 250GB for $84 per month, according to the Yonhap, making the Chinese prices up to nine times as cheap.

“While some other countries launched 5G services earlier this year, China will have the largest commercial operating 5G network in the world on Friday,” Chris Lane and other analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein wrote in a note to clients Wednesday. “The scale of its network and the price of its 5G services will have a pivotal impact throughout the supply chain.”

OPPO Announces New Dual-Mode 5G Device

With 5G plans available to the public, OPPO immediately jumped on the 5G train and announced the launch of their new dual-mode 5G phone.

SEE ALSO: OPPO Joined The 5G Battle With Reno Series, First 5G Smartphone

At present, 5G phones on the market are mainly single-mode. The IQOO Pro 5G and the Xiaomi 9 Pro 5G are both single-mode. OPPO’s new device, however, will support both standalone and non-standalone 5G modes, and is compatible with 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks at the same time.

Apart from the dual-mode 5G compliance, there’s no official confirmation from OPPO regarding the specifications of the upcoming phone.