5G drives up China's novel consumption

The rapid and extensive adoption of advanced 5G technology in China has driven up the country's novel consumption.

With over 3.7 million 5G base stations installed nationwide, the technology is now integrated into 71 of China's 97 key economic sectors.

Through collaboration with China Mobile, ZTE, Qualcomm, and Xiaomi, all well-known in 5G technology, the Shougang Industrial Park in Beijing has built a sci-fi amusement park using 5G-A to offer visitors a unique and immersive experience.

"In our Shougang No.1 Blast Furnace SoReal Sci-Fi Park, we apply 5G-A technology to all projects, so that our large-scale extended reality (XR) experience project could accommodate more visitors instantly and more ordinary consumers could enter the XR digital space we have created and enjoy a seamless blend of the virtual and real worlds. And with our application of 5G-A technology, all the visitors could have a large-scale experience of social interactions with mega space within the same digital environment," said Lyv Xiaozhuo, manager of the Shougang sci-fi park.

Xu Jingwen, a 5G specialist at China Mobile Research Institute, explained how 5G-A improves over the previous version and renders real-time interaction and immersion.

"Its full name is 5G-Advanced, which is an enhanced edition of 5G, but offers a tenfold increase in network capacity over 5G. In supporting our XR immersive real-time business, it expands transmission bandwidth and boost downlink speeds to 10 gigabits per second on the basis of 5G's transmission rate of 1.5 gigabits per second," said Xu.

The technology also allows smart driving.

With 5G, vehicle systems can operate multimodally, from voice recognition to interpreting drivers' facial expressions through cameras.

The 5G-powered smart driving system can handle and monitor various conditions of driving, from starting the car, to navigating the vehicle, and parking, saving drivers both time and energy.

"In my breakfast time here in the car in the morning, I just peel the egg shell off and have a cup of coffee. I think I take advantage (of the smart driving technology), feeling that this time period is what I've stolen," said Li Ting, a staff member at Chinese car manufacturer JIDU Auto.

China is set to rapidly expand the application of 5G technologies by 2027.

The country's strategy aims that by then over 85 percent of the population will use 5G, 75 percent of mobile internet traffic will be generated through 5G, and every 10,000 people should be supported by 38 base stations.

The number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices utilizing 5G is also projected to exceed 100 million. The plan also focuses on increasing 5G adoption in industrial sectors, with a target of 45 percent of large and medium-sized enterprises adopting 5G technologies in their production and operations.

5G drives up China's novel consumption

The multilateral system is "under attack" amid global turmoil, President of the 80th UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock warned in her remarks on Wednesday.

In her briefing on the priorities for the resumed 80th Session of the General Assembly, the UNGA president noted that the current multilateral system does not collapse all in a sudden, but "crumbles piece by piece" in divisions, compromises, and lack of political commitment.

The president called all the UN member states to defend the UN Charter and international law and promote cross-regional cooperation.

She also urged to push forward the work of the UNGA on certain critical issues with a strong majority, rather than an absolute consensus among all member states. Such act is not a failure of multilateralism, but "an affirmation of it," she said.

The foundational principles of the institution should not be eroded by appeasement, she said, calling the member states to show courage, leadership, and responsibility at the UN's "critical make-or-break moment."

"The UN needs you. Your support, your leadership, your principle, stand, your cross-regional cooperation, if we are to preserve and modernize this institution, if we are to make it, rather than break it," she said.

UNGA President warns global multilateral system "under attack"