China expanding influence in 5G, robotics

China is one of the earliest 5G pioneers and is also a leading player in the fast-evolving technology. It is not the only player, but it is one of the first and by far the largest 5G market, said a top executive.

John Hoffman, CEO and director of GSMA Ltd, said China has moved from "bringing innovation into the country" to "showcasing Chinese innovation to the world".

"China is able to showcase not only the ability to successfully roll out 5G, but also to begin to commercialize it before anyone else. And that allowed a showcasing of the technology and the early applications and services that others around the world could see, could evaluate and potentially replicate," Hoffman said.

According to a notice released on June 23 by GSMA, China currently accounts for over 40 percent of global 5G connections.

Mobile technologies generated $1.5 trillion in economic value in 2025, equivalent to 7.2 percent of GDP, and are expected to rise to $2.1 trillion by 2030, the notice said.

Sihan Bo Chen, head of China unit at GSMA, said, "Those numbers tell the story of an industry that's moved far beyond connectivity into something much more ubiquitous — a platform for productivity, artificial intelligence-driven services and sustainable economic growth."

MWC26 Shanghai was held from June 24-26 during which a humanoid robot skills challenge took place.

"I don't know how humanoids are going to ultimately develop, but they have come very far in a relatively short period of time. You know, it is not only the convergence of AI and 5G connectivity, but also the mechanics of taking metal and silicone and putting it all together for something new and exciting," Hoffman said.

Hoffman said that a few months ago, when he visited Beijing, he was with a vice-mayor, who was telling him about the second half marathon robotic competition.

He added that the capabilities demonstrated by the robots this year far exceeded expectations.

"So, we're seeing advances at a much faster pace than expected. Based on what I've seen around the world, again, China is one of the global leaders in the development of robotics," Hoffman said.

Huang Tao, an independent expert in AI, said: "The opportunities in China's mobile economy are mainly reflected in the following aspects: the deep integration of 5G with cutting-edge technologies such as AI and robotics; promoting the digital transformation of the industry; and creating new growth points in intelligent manufacturing, smart cities and other fields.

"The continuous expansion of the mobile economy's contribution to GDP is expected to reach $2.1 trillion by 2030, creating market space. Also, the international exchange and cooperation platform gathers top global technology enterprises, promotes technological innovation and industrial synergy, and injects new impetus into the mobile economy."

Huang added, "It should be noted how the mobile economy can integrate with the real economy for development, help humanity overcome some dangerous scenarios while avoiding affecting small and medium-sized enterprises and households, and drive the industry to create more job opportunities."

zhengyiran@chinadaily.com.cn