
China’s mobile network operators to push nationwide roll-out of new 5G messaging service
- China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom are expected to launch their new 5G messaging service this month
- The service, which integrates video, audio and electronic payment functions, could potentially compete with Tencent super app WeChat
Huang Changjian, deputy general manager of China Unicom’s product centre, revealed the planned roll-out in a forum at last week’s China International Information and Communication Exhibition, an annual event known as PT Expo China, held in Beijing from September 27 to 29. China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom had initially planned to introduce the service in April last year.
“5G messaging will become a new entry [point] for [various] online services,” said the three companies, adding that its built-in digital yuan wallet will enable subscribers to directly make mobile payments.

China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.
China Mobile, the world’s largest wireless network operator by subscribers, recorded 304.14 million 5G users out of its total 951.1 million subscribers at the end of August. China Telecom had 146.62 million 5G subscribers in the same period, while China Unicom had 129.1 million 5G network users.

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“It won’t pose a threat to WeChat any time soon, as tremendous time and effort is required to create an ecosystem [on that scale],” Liu Xingliang, an independent internet and technology expert, told the South China Morning Post in April last year.
