The number of cities in China with the capability of offering gigabit 5G and optical fiber services hit 110 at the end of October, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Kunming is the only city in Yunnan province on the list.
In terms of regional distribution, 41 of these cities are in East China, 29 in the central region and 40 in the country's west.
Gigabit fiber network coverage in average urban households in these cities exceeded 100 percent, while the number of 5G base stations reached 22.2 per 10,000 people, higher than the national average of 15.7. In Kunming’s case, the number increased to 26, with 5G users accounting for 45 percent.
In these cities, over 80 percent of large public hospitals, key universities, major cultural and tourist sites, trunk airports, and key roads have access to 5G network.
They are also promoting the integration and application of new technologies, such as 5G and gigabit optical networks, across many fields, including information consumption, social livelihood and digital government.
As an important part of digital infrastructure, 5G and gigabit optical networks underpin the high-quality development of the digital economy and industries.
Yunnan has issued ambitious plan for its digital development, and according to its three year action plan, by 2024, the main business income of the province's digital economy core industries will double that of 2020. By then, the number of 5G stations in the province will have grown to 120,000.
