China Media Group (CMG) announced on Friday it will set up the country's first 5G-based new media platform with support from China's three telecom giants – China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile – and Huawei Technology.

According to the agreement, a 5G laboratory will be created to accelerate the application of 4K Ultra HD video and push innovation in other video-based products.

The lab will also build an end-to-end testing system in the ten cities hosting 5G pilot programs to help verify technology's video transmission capabilities. Research in the lab will provide insights that will set the industry standard for live signals, file transfer specifications and content-producing procedures.

All tests are expected to be completed by the next Two Sessions, which will take place in March 2019.

Before the deal, CMG, the three telecom giants and Huawei conducted a three-month 5G transmission test successfully.

5G can deliver data at least 10 times faster than 4G and cut latency and lag-time when data is sent or received. That's why the media industry cannot miss this valuable opportunity.

Shen Haixiong, president of China Media Group, said at Friday's signing ceremony that CMG is going to roll out a "4K+5G+AI" strategy by taking advantage of big data and Artificial Intelligence (AI). He also said the group will conduct more research on smart applications, and try to expand the influence of the national media platform.

On October 1, CMG launched the first domestic superstar TV channel – the CCTV 4K Ultra HD channel, which broadcasts original 4K Ultra HD content eight hours per day, an abundant resource for 5G commercial testing.

5G is expected to go beyond phones and link up everything from vehicles to household devices –- anything with a wifi connection – at far greater speeds.

(Top image: Shen Haixiong, president of China Media Group, at the signing ceremony in Beijing, December 28, 2018. /CCTV Photo)