US catches up with China in 5G readiness as race heats up for ultra-fast mobile networks
- US leads in planned commercial deployments in 2019, but China has hundreds of large-scale 5G trials
The United States has tied with China in the lead for global 5G readiness, as the world’s two largest economies race to deploy next-generation telecommunications networks that will help power the industrial internet, autonomous driving and smart cities, among a range of new mobile applications.
The US moved from third place in 2018 to tie China at first this year in the latest study on the 5G commitments of countries by telecoms research firm Analysys Mason. It also ranked South Korea, which unveiled its initial roll-out of 5G mobile services on Wednesday, as well as Japan and the UK among the top five in global 5G readiness.
The first large-scale 5G deployments are already happening in communities across America, according to Meredith Attwell Baker, the president and chief executive of US trade association CTIA.
The US “has made impressive strides in the 5G race, thanks to the commitment of the administration, Congress and the Federal Communications Commission to smart policies”, said Attwell Baker in a statement.
Making an influx of mobile spectrum available to the US telecoms industry over the next five years is expected to add US$391 billion to the nation’s economy and create 1.8 million new jobs, according to a separate research conducted by Analysis Group.