The 700MHz 5G frequency band has good propagation characteristics and is the golden frequency band for the development of mobile communication services.
On March 25, when China Mobile announced its 2020 annual results, it revealed that it plans to jointly purchase more than 400,000 700MHz base stations with China Radio and Television in 2021, and the construction will be completed in 2021-2022.
The commercial use of 4G networks based on 700MHz has kicked off the global commercialization of mobile communications. Marked by the joint construction and sharing of 700MHz by China Mobile and China Radio and Television, China’s 5G construction is advancing towards the goal of achieving full coverage of urban areas, counties, and key towns across the country.
The implementation of 700MHz 5G network co-construction and sharing
The 700MHz 5G frequency band has good propagation characteristics and is the golden frequency band for the development of mobile communication services. At the early stage of the issuance of 5G licenses, China confirmed that China Mobile and China Radio and Television will jointly build a 700MHz 5G network. The progress of cooperation between the two parties has always been the focus of the market.
In March 2020, the 700MHz band 2×30MHz/40MHz large-bandwidth technical solution formulated by China Radio and Television became the world’s first low-band large-bandwidth 5G international standard.
The 700MHz 5G frequency band is a traditional broadcast television system frequency band. On April 2, 2020, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued a notice to adjust the use plan of the 700MHz frequency band and use it for 5G communications.
As a result, China’s 5G development has obtained valuable low-frequency spectrum resources and formed a high, medium, and low-frequency band synergy The situation of development. The adjusted 700MHz 5G frequency band frequency usage plan is compatible with international mainstream solutions, which is conducive to sharing the global industrial base.
According to the interpretation of relevant departments of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, most countries in the world, including China, have completed or are in the process of terrestrial TV analog-to-digital conversion in the 700MHz 5G frequency band, and use the released spectrum for mobile communication systems with higher spectrum utilization.
China’s mobile communication industry has formed a relatively complete network equipment and terminal industry chain in this frequency band and has the conditions to switch from traditional TV broadcasting services to mobile communication services.
In May 2020, China Mobile and China Radio and Television signed a 5G co-construction and sharing cooperation framework agreement, and the 700MHz 5G network jointly invested by the two parties at a ratio of 1:1 was officially launched.
China Mobile and China Radio and Television jointly build and share a 700MHz 5G network, which will effectively tap the value of this high-quality resource spectrum and benefit both parties.
China Radio and Television and China Mobile jointly launched a 700MHz terminal ecological joint construction plan, calling on the terminal industry chain to upgrade frequency band capabilities, and put forward specific requirements for supporting the 700MHz frequency band for various types of 5G terminals.
After signing a 5G network sharing agreement with China Radio and Television, China Mobile has set a timetable for the popularization of 700MHz 5G terminals. From March 1, 2021, new terminals of 4000 yuan and above must support the 700MHz 5G frequency band; Starting from October 1, 2021, all new terminals at all prices must support 700MHz 5G.
The golden band 700MHz 5G is the protagonist of China's 5G construction in 2021
700MHz has always been regarded as the golden frequency band. Although the capacity is not large, as a low-frequency band, it has the advantages of low propagation loss, wide coverage, strong penetration, and low network cost, and these advantages are particularly prominent in the 5G era.
From the perspective of the transmission characteristics of radio waves, the higher the frequency, the shorter the propagation distance, the lower the frequency, the wider the propagation range, and the lower the cost of network construction.
Spectrum resources are the core resource for the development of the mobile communication industry. During the construction of base stations, the higher the frequency band used, the smaller the coverage radius of the base station. To achieve continuous coverage, the base stations must be built densely, and the cost will rise accordingly.
Compared with the mid-and high-frequency bands, 700MHz can achieve wider 5G signal coverage and accordingly can reduce the deployment density of base stations, which has a very positive effect on effectively reducing the construction cost and energy consumption of 5G networks.
In the open countryside, the coverage of a 700MHz single base station signal can reach more than twice the current mainstream 5G frequency band 2.6GHz of China Mobile, and it can reach nearly 3 times that of the 3.5GHz mainstream 5G frequency band of China Telecom Unicom.
Network construction is the cornerstone of 5G commercial and business development, and the investment is huge. Adherence to precise and intensive network construction and continuing to reduce network construction costs are strong guarantees for the stability and long-term development of 5G.
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