At present, in order to better support the development of the digital economy, the construction of digital information infrastructure represented by 5G, gigabit optical networks, and data centers has been significantly accelerated. On April 19, at the press conference on the development of industry and information technology in the first quarter held by the State New Office, Zhao Zhiguo, spokesman of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and Director of the Information and Communications Administration, introduced the achievements made by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in promoting the construction of digital information infrastructure.

Zhao Zhiguo said that digital information infrastructure is the “base” of the digital economy and plays a strategic, fundamental and leading role in economic and social development. This year’s Government Work Report also clearly stated that digital information infrastructure should be built. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology resolutely implemented the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and The State Council, solidly promoted the construction of digital information infrastructure, and made positive progress:

The first is the continuous enhancement of infrastructure, from three dimensions. Coverage is wider, and the coverage of 5G networks continues to expand. In the first quarter, the new 5G base stations reached 134,000, and nearly 1.56 million 5G base stations were opened in total. On the basis of the comprehensive coverage of optical fiber access for fixed broadband, the optical fiber access capacity of 320 million households has been upgraded to gigabit. More powerful, the scale of computing power continues to grow, and the total scale of data center racks in use exceeds 5 million.

Second, the level of service continued to improve. A 5G integrated comprehensive service system has been established, with richer service functions and more diverse service types. In the first quarter, the number of new 5G mobile phone users reached 48.11 million, and the total number reached 403 million, accounting for 24.3% of the total number of mobile phone users. The number of newly developed gigabit and above users reached 11.41 million, and the scale has reached 45.96 million.

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3BSE008508R1 DI810

Third, the enabling effect has gradually become prominent. Vigorously cultivate 5G and gigabit optical network “double gigabit” network integration applications, and the cumulative number of application innovation cases has reached 23,000. For industrial, smart city and other applications, the first batch of new data centers in 44 countries was released. At present, the emerging digital services for enterprises have become the first driver of telecom business revenue growth.

In the next step, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will thoroughly implement the deployment requirements of the “Government Work Report”, strengthen overall planning and collaborative layout, in order to build and use, promote construction with use, continue to promote the construction of digital infrastructure, and help open up the information “artery” of economic and social development.

First, speed up infrastructure development and guide the expansion of effective investment. We will advance the construction of 5G and gigabit optical networks in a steady and orderly manner, and deepen the joint construction and sharing of networks. Continue to improve the depth and breadth of network coverage, promote the completion of 600,000 5G base stations in the year, gigabit optical network coverage capacity of more than 400 million households. Promote the construction of the national hub node data center cluster project, continue to optimize the layout of data centers, and accelerate the evolution to high technology, high computing power, and high efficiency.

Second, improve the level of integrated application and strengthen the ability to lead development. The implementation of the 5G industry application “ten hundred thousand” project, that is, the selection of 10 vertical industries, the formation of 100 benchmark demonstrations in each industry, and the construction of 1,000 5G industry virtual private networks. We will hold 5G and Gigabit optical network application innovation competitions, focus on key industries to form innovative application demonstration benchmarks, add new consumer circuits, and strive to explore new highlights of information consumption, create an upgraded version of “5G+ Industrial Internet”, and promote application scenarios to accelerate the expansion and extension of production peripheral links to internal links.

Third, explore multi-party cooperation mechanisms to create a sound environment for development. Strengthen departmental collaboration. Strengthen cooperation and coordination with relevant industry authorities, deepen the docking of supply and demand, and form a synergy in promoting the industry’s application development goals, key tasks, and major initiatives. We will deepen coordination between ministries and provinces. Governments at all levels are encouraged to increase policy support for the development of 5G and other digital information infrastructure such as land use, electricity use, and employment, and guide social capital to support application innovation. We will encourage all localities to adapt to local conditions and actively expand the integration and application of industries with local characteristics.