People visit the 2019 World 5G Convention in Beijing, capital of China, Nov 21, 2019. Photo/Xinhua

Progress in 2019

China has strengthened efforts to develop the 5G industry, and it made great achievements by the end of 2019, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said Monday.

As of the end of 2019, China had built more than 130,000 5G base stations nationwide, an official from the MIIT said on Monday at a press briefing. Also in 2019, the official said, 35 models of 5G cellphones were granted network access licenses in China, and shipments of 5G cellphones reached 13.77 million.

Malaysia on track

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Sunday that the country was on track to roll out 5G service commercially by the third quarter of 2020.

Speaking at the launch of the 5G Demonstration Projects in Langkawi, in Malaysia's northern Kedah state, Mahathir said 5G has the power to promote an array of new services, improve manufacturing efficiency and spur innovation nationwide.