Our reporter Zhao Peng
The mobile phone is 4G, but the package is 5G. Whether this is a real "5G" or a fake "5G" user, it is unclear for a while. A recent comparison of data between the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and operators shows that there are about 50 million 5G package users in China that have not yet used 5G mobile phones.
5G user data is "watered"?
At the moment, 5G has achieved good results in stabilizing investment, promoting consumption, facilitating upgrades, and developing new momentum, and has played a supporting role in supporting high-quality economic development. However, can the public become "5G" users with a 5G package with 4G mobile phones?
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology Wenku recently disclosed that 197 models of 5G terminals in China have obtained network access permits, and the shipment of 5G mobile phones has exceeded 86.23 million. He said that compared to the number of 5G package users announced by operators, the more convincing data is the number of 5G mobile phones connected. "As of the end of June, the number of domestically connected 5G mobile phones was 66 million." He said.
Compared with the sales of 5G mobile phones, 5G package users have soared faster. According to the latest data released by China Mobile, as of the end of June, its cumulative 5G package users have reached 70.19 million. China Telecom revealed that its 5G package subscribers totaled 37.84 million in the same period.
Although China Unicom has not announced the number of 5G package users so far, the industry estimates that the number should be more than 20 million. In other words, there should be about 120 million domestic 5G package users.
Huawei disclosed that as of the end of June, there were still less than 100 million real 5G users covered by 5G services worldwide. Corresponding to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, there are only 66 million 5G mobile phones connected to the Internet. Apparently, there are still about 50 million 5G package users in China who have not used 5G mobile phones.
A 5G mobile phone with a 5G network but no internet connection. This 5G network can only be idle during certain periods. The accelerated popularity of 5G mobile phones is therefore extremely important.
Urgently pushing high-priced 5G packages for cash
There are few 5G mobile phone users, how to solve this problem? "At present, the price of 5G mobile phones has reached 1,600 yuan, and the news from mobile phone manufacturers shows that a large number of thousand yuan phones will be launched into the market in the second half of the year, and 5G mobile phone sales will inevitably usher in a big explosion." Communications industry expert Xiang Ligang said , "By then, the number of 5G mobile phone networks and the number of 5G package users will continue to approach."
"The eagerness to invest in cash to recover the funds for 5G construction is an important reason for operators to promote 5G packages." Xiang Ligang further explained.
This year, China Mobile's 5G construction investment will reach about 100 billion yuan, and its financial report shows that its net profit last year was 106.6 billion yuan.
However, there are a group of low-cost package users among 4G users. "I have WiFi at home and I rarely use my mobile phone when I go out. I recently changed the package from a mobile package of 38 yuan to a package of 9 yuan." Mr. Xiao, 75, who lives in Huayuanqiao, Haidian District, told reporters.
The reporter learned that there are a lot of low-cost 4G packages currently offered by operators. For example, China Mobile has an 8 yuan/month 4G flying package, China Telecom has a 5 yuan/month worry-free card package, and China Unicom has 19 yuan. Variety of packages.
By improving the price-performance ratio under the same gear, and transforming low- and medium-priced 4G package users into high-end 5G package users as soon as possible, the battle for 5G users among the three major operators is intensifying.
“At present, the average price of 4G packages in China is around RMB 50, and the value of one 5G package user developed by operators is equivalent to several 4G package users.” Xiang Ligang said, “Even if 5G packages are frequently discounted recently, the discounted price It is also generally around 100 yuan, and the price of the discount is to accept the annual contract, which is equivalent to the fixed income of the operator for one or two years in advance. This is the motivation for the operator to spare no effort to promote the 5G package."
Urgent need for innovative applications to promote the actual landing of 5G
Although the development of 5G package users can quickly realize benefits and bring "quick money", in the opinion of experts, operators should not be limited to blindly developing 5G package users.
The "Notice on Promoting 5G Accelerated Development" issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology proposes to encourage operators to promote 5G terminal consumption through credit purchases and other measures to accelerate the migration of users to 5G; promote live events, game entertainment, virtual shopping and other applications to promote new information consumption , To promote 5G integration and application innovation in various industries.
In fact, mobile phone manufacturers have already adopted measures such as price cuts to promote 5G mobile phones this year. However, the lack of 5G innovative applications that actually serve the public has greatly restricted everyone's yearning for 5G. The reporter noted that currently 5G applications are more oriented towards telemedicine, industrial Internet, robotics, smart government and other fields, and applications that are inseparable from people's livelihood are still scarce resources.
“Operators should integrate and develop with all parties and focus on the development of 5G innovative applications for people’s livelihood.” Professor Zeng Jianqiu of the School of Economics and Management of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications told reporters. “This can not only solve people’s livelihood needs, but also allow users to fall in love with 5G. Strengthen user stickiness."
Zeng Jianqiu said that, for example, the public is still in the era of blindly waiting for public transportation. If operators and relevant departments can use 5G, big data and AI technologies to release the real-time arrival time of buses in the form of apps and provide smart transfer information This will not only resolve years of chronic illness, but also hopefully create relevant benefits for all parties.
"There are more than 500,000 5G base stations in China, and they are still climbing at a rate of more than 10,000 per week." Zeng Jianqiu said. In his view, 5G will profoundly affect public life at least for the next 10 years. Thousand-yuan mobile phones and operator contract discount purchases, supplemented by innovative applications that directly serve the people’s livelihood, will surely promote the popularization of 5G mobile phones, solve the problem that a large number of 5G package users are still using 4G mobile phones, and truly bring 5G to the public Around.