The recent collaboration between China Unicom Beijing and Huawei marks a significant milestone in telecommunications with the deployment of the world’s first large-scale integrated 5G-Advanced intelligent network. This development was announced during the event, “5G Capital on the Way – Lighting Up Beijing with 5G-Advanced,” and highlights their commitment to enhancing the digital infrastructure of Beijing, aiming to offer a superior user experience with the innovative 5G-Advanced technology. With this pioneering initiative, Beijing stands on the threshold of a new era of connectivity, poised to transform everyday life and drive economic competitiveness.
Expansive Coverage and Enhanced Connectivity
China Unicom Beijing and Huawei’s joint initiative brings about a world-leading 5G-Advanced smart commercial complex, integrating high- and low-band networking. This integration is notably implemented at the Workers’ Stadium and the Great Wall scenic area, setting industry benchmarks for extensive and advanced network capabilities. The network’s deployment is expansive, covering a wide array of public and commercial spaces, including stadiums, schools, metro stations, scenic areas, commercial hubs, and residential zones within Beijing’s 4th Ring Road and the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center. This extensive coverage ensures comprehensive 5G connectivity and aims to achieve 85% 5G-Advanced coverage.
One of the key highlights of this deployment is the ultra-large-scale commercial 3CC network supporting services such as immersive videos, UHD live streaming, and cloud gaming. The retrofitting of old phone booths to connect with the 5G-Advanced network further exemplifies China Unicom Beijing’s commitment to leveraging advanced technologies for public benefit. Passersby can now access navigation, ride-hailing, and emergency services with just a single touch, which significantly enhances everyday connectivity and safety for the city’s residents. This transformation into a smart city ecosystem ensures that 5G technology can reach and benefit all demographics, from tourists at the Great Wall to students in metro stations.
Revolutionary Network Capabilities at Workers’ Stadium
A standout achievement is the establishment of a world-leading integrated 5G-Advanced network in the Workers’ Stadium by China Unicom Beijing, Sinobo, GTVerse, and Huawei. This deployment includes an extensive array of 5G-Advanced 3CC sites, both inside and outside the stadium. These sites support a ten-gigabit network with the broadest frequency range globally. During field tests, this network achieved a remarkable downlink peak rate of 11.2 Gbps, ensuring that up to 68,000 spectators could stream 1080p videos concurrently. The uplink peak rate reached 4 Gbps, adequate for UHD shallow compression services. The network’s capabilities also extend to innovative practices in the Internet of Vehicles (IoV), Internet of Things (IoT), and XR split rendering, showcasing the potential of 5G-Advanced technology to revolutionize various industries.
Moreover, the Workers’ Stadium’s deployment exemplifies how cutting-edge networks can enhance fan experiences, from interactive gaming zones to real-time video streaming during live events. This technology also stands to improve safety and operational efficiency within the stadium, providing a blueprint for similar implementations globally. The ability to seamlessly support thousands of simultaneous connections underlines the robustness of 5G-Advanced, marking a transformative leap in large-scale event connectivity. This initiative not only sets a global standard but also paves the way for smart stadiums that can engage and interact with visitors in unprecedented ways.
Seamless Connectivity at the Great Wall Scenic Area
In another significant development, the Beijing Yanqing District Government and China Unicom Beijing have deployed large-scale 10-gigabit 5G-Advanced base stations at the Great Wall scenic area. This initiative aims to provide seamless network coverage from ground level to low-altitude airspace (below 300 meters), integrating high- and low-band spectrum use. The network’s reliability and quality are bolstered, supporting scenarios such as tourism, logistics, emergency rescue, and scenic area protection, fostering the development of a low-altitude economy innovation base. This approach ensures that visitors can enjoy uninterrupted connectivity, enhancing their travel experience while promoting cultural and historical preservation through technology.
This initiative at the Great Wall highlights the potential of 5G-Advanced to transform not just urban but also rural and historic areas. The comprehensive coverage and integration enable authorities to implement smart monitoring for tourism management and emergency response, adding a layer of modernity to one of the world’s oldest structures. Such endeavors underline the versatility and far-reaching impact of 5G technologies, which can enhance various aspects of life, from leisure to security. This deployment serves as a model for how technologically advanced networks can be harmonized with historical and environmental preservation, driving a new age of intelligent heritage sites.
Automation and AI-Driven Optimization
Furthermore, China Unicom Beijing has implemented end-to-end automation for provisioning 5G-Advanced sites within minutes, leveraging its 5G intelligent operations platform. This process, devoid of manual intervention, significantly cuts down cyber security risks and accelerates the provisioning timeline from days to mere minutes. The automated system optimizes the 5G-Advanced base stations using AI-driven intelligence, enabling automatic optimization of provisioning, services, iteration, and inspection based on user data. This pioneering approach makes China Unicom Beijing the first carrier to successfully implement network self-provisioning and self-optimization in lightweight scenarios. Additionally, the deployment of computing power at base stations facilitates distributed AI-driven management, reinforcing a digital and intelligent ecosystem driven by cloud-edge collaboration.
The advancements in automation and AI underscore the progressive nature of the 5G-Advanced initiative. These technologies permit real-time adjustments and proactive maintenance of the network, leading to unparalleled service reliability and performance. By harnessing AI, China Unicom Beijing can predict and mitigate network issues before they impact users, thus ensuring a seamless digital experience. This direction towards intelligent networking reflects a broad commitment to not just building a robust infrastructure, but also creating a self-sustaining, efficient, and secure digital environment, setting foundational standards for future networks worldwide.
Commitment to Innovation and Quality
The recent partnership between China Unicom Beijing and Huawei marks a major breakthrough in telecommunications with the rollout of the world’s first extensive integrated 5G-Advanced intelligent network. Announced at the event “5G Capital on the Way – Lighting Up Beijing with 5G-Advanced,” this collaboration emphasizes their dedication to bolstering Beijing’s digital infrastructure, aiming to provide an exceptional user experience with cutting-edge 5G-Advanced technology.
This debut signifies a new era of connectivity for Beijing, poised to revolutionize daily life and enhance economic competitiveness. This collaborative effort seeks not only to improve internet speeds but also to support a wide range of applications—from smart homes and cities to autonomous driving and telemedicine. Additionally, this enhancement in technology will complement Beijing’s strategy to remain at the forefront of innovation and digital transformation, creating new opportunities for businesses and residents alike. As the first of its kind on a global scale, this project could set a precedent for similar advancements elsewhere.
