Guangzhou Airport Becomes First 5G-Covered Airport in China

By Ryan Gandolfo

Step aside Pig, 2019 looks to be the year of 5G.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport launched a ‘5G base station’ on Friday, January 25. The new installation makes the Guangdong capital’s airport the first 5G-covered airport in the country, according to Xinhua. The base station concept, which operates as a low-powered cell tower, is an integral technology to help users access 5G networks more efficiently and with fewer obstacles to disrupt connection.

Image via Pixabay

The airport’s newly installed 5G network base station, built by China Unicom using Huawei’s 5G LampSite, can reach 1.14 gigabytes per second, which is about 50 times faster than the current 4G network. Huawei released its 5G LampSite in March 2018, a considerable upgrade from their 4G LampSite that was set up to serve users in airports as well as other large indoor areas. According to Huawei’s website, the transition from 4G to 5G will be less complicated because the optical fiber cables previously laid out during 4G deployments can also be used for 5G.

5G sites have been popping up all around China over the past year, with the country’s three major telecommunications providers testing the latest generation network capabilities.

Last week, Xining, a city in Qinghai province, opened its first 5G base station. The facility is the first to be built in China’s Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and will cover part of the city’s downtown area.

READ MORE: China to Start Testing 5G Networks in These Cities

[Cover image via Baiyun Airport Website]

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