Shenzhen becomes first Chinese city to get 5G

The city of Shenzhen has experienced a 5G roll-out...albeit in only one specific area. It is known as the Qianhai-Shekou Free Trade Zone. The next-gen radio bands are offered by the carrier China Unicom. There are now 111 base-stations for that purpose in the Zone.

This means that China is one of a handful of countries with 5G, after South Korea, the US and Switzerland. The country will not lack for 5G phone providers, however: OnePlus, OPPO, Xiaomi and ZTE, to name but a few, have already demonstrated their commitment to working with Qualcomm to incorporate the chip-maker's new modems.

China Unicom has also planned a show in the Free Trade Zone to showcase 5G's capabilities and potential. It will run from April 26 to 28. They may include the implementation of a 'smart city', autonomous vehicle control and other futuristic public amenities.