Editor's note: SAY WHAT? is an original video series produced by CGTN Digital for the upcoming Two Sessions. Each episode introduces one keyword that will be frequently mentioned and discussed during the sessions. We hope this is an easier way for you to better understand China's important annual political event. The keyword in this episode: 5G.

5G, 5G and 5G. Everyone has been talking about it since 2019 and this year it'll start having a big impact on our lives.

On June 6, 2019, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued four commercial licenses for 5G. The country has officially entered a new technological era – racing along the 5G track.

China has achieved remarkable progress in 5G patents, standards, evaluation licenses and network deployments. For example, its 5G patents account for over 30 percent of the world's total, ranking first.

By the end of 2019, more than 130,000 5G base stations had been built nationwide. In seven years, the existing 5.5 million 4G base stations will be upgraded to 5G. The combined total of 5G base stations will reach 6 million in China by 2027.

Meanwhile, people are starting to enjoy more 5G applications in their daily lives: folding-screen phones, faster check-in at railway stations and higher quality TV shows.

Most people associate 5G with one word: fast. Speed and new technologies are important, but 5G is about much more.

5G is a "cross-generation" technology. It is the network that will underpin the entire next-generation technology revolution.

5G applications help expand communication from person-to-person to person-to-thing, thing-to-thing and beyond.

It starts the ubiquitous interconnection of all things, human-machine interaction and the change led by intelligence. 5G will be at the forefront of a new round of technological and industrial revolution.

Worldwide competition for 5G market share is looming. South Korea, the U.S., Switzerland and others have all launched 5G commercial services.

The 5G era has come. The vision of the Internet of Everything is being realized. But new services, new frameworks and new technologies will also pose new challenges to big data security and users' privacy protection.

During the upcoming Two Sessions, what motions and proposals will be raised and deliberated by legislators and political advisors on 5G related issues? Let's wait and see!

Anchor: Liu Chen

Editor: Wu Yan, Liu Chen

Copy Editor: John Goodrich

Producer: Zhang Xiaohe

Senior Consultant: Dr. Xia Jixuan

Chief Editor: Chen Ran

Supervisor: Zhang Shilei