How many 5G base stations are there in China?

In data collected between July 2022 and June 2024, China was reported to have had around 3.5 million 5G base stations installed across the country, with Chinese mobile operators investing heavily in 5G infrastructure. By comparison, the European Union had around 460,000 thousand base stations, while the United States had approximately 175,000.

Does China have a 5G network?

The most high-profile Chinese presence is in Europe’s 5G mobile networks. Huawei and ZTE—China’s leading telecom equipment vendors—have been major suppliers of the antennas, base stations, and switches that power wireless networks across Europe.

Are Chinese telecom giants a threat to Europe's 5G networks?

As Chinese telecom giants weave themselves into Europe’s 5G networks, undersea cables, and smart infrastructure, they bring not only speed and savings—but strategic risk.

Is 5G a risky telecommunications infrastructure?

As a collective, the European Union (EU) agrees that it is risky to leave critical telecommunications infrastructure, including 5G, in the hands of foreign telecom operators. But the E.U. has lagged the U.S. in taking enforcement action.

Which countries have adopted Huawei 5G technology?

Countries such as Hungary and Spain adopted Huawei 5G early, making future replacement costly, while others like Ireland, Serbia, and Switzerland have welcomed Chinese 5G technology. Chinese firms often offered attractive financing and quick deployment, which appealed to telecommunications infrastructure operators across Europe.

When will 5G be available in China?

The latter bands are commonly being seen as leading frequencies for 5G, in the EU and elsewhere. Moreover, each MNO in China has a different date for its prospective commercial launch, with 2019 for China Mobile, but sometime in 2020 for China Unicom and China Telecom.