The second phase of China's 5G testing program will be concluded by the end of this year with the third round starting in 2018, said Wen Ku, director of the telecom department at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, on Friday.
As one of the first countries in the world to promote 5G testing, China established the IMT-2020 (5G) development group back in 2013 and has made strides in research and development.
By next June, China will introduce the first global 5G standard, and around the same time, aim to introduce 5G prototype products, said Wen at a press conference in Beijing.
It was added that 5G is expected to become a driving force for China's economic growth and transformation with extensive use in each corner of life.
Test results show technical solutions provided by participating companies can meet core requirements. Five companies including Huawei and ZTE have built 15 stations in Huairou District in Beijing for further tests.
China plans to commercialize 5G mobile networks, which provide much faster connectivity and lower energy consumption, as early as 2020.