China now has the world's largest 5G network following accelerated infrastructure construction for the Internet over the past 12 months, according to the 2024 China Internet Development Report issued by the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies on Thursday.
The report was released during the 2024 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit, which started on Wednesday in Wuzhen Town of east China's Zhejiang Province.
The report says China had 3.8 million 5G base stations by the end of June, covering the entire country with a penetration rate of 5G users exceeding 60 percent. 5G technology has been applied to 74 industries. Key industries such as manufacturing, mining, electricity and healthcare have witnessed rapid 5G development over the past 12 months.
Besides 5G, China is also spearheading the infrastructure construction for gigabit Internet with the country's gigabit Internet users accounting for more than 70 percent globally, according to the report.
In addition to the report on China's internet development, the publisher also released the 2024 World Internet Development Report, which highlights global progress in upgrading existing Internet infrastructure, and the acceleration of innovation in emerging digital technology. It also warns that global cybersecurity remains fragile as crimes have increased significantly.
The first WIC was held in 2014 and it has now become the largest and highest-level Internet conference in China. Every year, representatives of government departments, international organizations and leading internet companies from more than 100 countries and regions gather in Wuzhen to discuss the development and future of the Internet.
China develops world's largest 5G network: report
