Though telecom companies are still rolling out 5G mobile networks across the country since it was first launched in 2019, industry leaders are already considering options for the next big technological leap. Chinese experts are discussing 5.5G, which aims to take wireless communications to the next level. Xu Hua has this report.

5G has ushered in new levels of digitalization and intelligence. What about a more advanced vision, 5.5G? Together with industrial partners, Chinese telecom giant, Huawei, is looking to launch a 5.5G network, which is expected to support advanced applications with enhanced mobility and high reliability.

WANG QI CMO of 5.5G, Huawei Wireless Network "Based on the current 5G, 5.5G will see a continuous improvement of network capabilities. For uplink, it will be capable of increasing the speed from 100 mbps to one gbps. Download speeds can be increased from one gbps to 10 gbps enabling users to experience a ten-fold improvement in general."

Users are more concerned about what benefits it could bring to their daily lives. Huawei says 5.5G will not be just about faster web browsing, movie-streaming, gaming and improved communications. It could play a big part in the manufacturing industry.

WANG QI CMO of 5.5G, Huawei Wireless Network "In the digital factory or connection factory, or other business scenarios, 5G and 5.5G can help enterprises to enter core areas of industrial production, like industrial control field."

In addition, experts say 5.5G technology has the potential to power a greener world.

JOSE AHIMSA CAMPOS ARCEIZ Principal Investigator, Chinese Academy of Sciences "I think the main role that this data technology can help is to optimize, integrate more efficiency in many processes. So I think, by providing more information about processes, by providing better tools for decision-making and for automatic decisions, there will be many ways to optimize and use in many processes from energy use in general, to waste management to agriculture to many aspects of what we do."

XU HUA Shenzhen "The commercial launch of 5.5G is estimated to come around 2025. But to make it a reality, it's still a long way for all industry players to define technology standards and meet the demands of industrial applications. Xu Hua, CGTN, Shenzhen."