China Unicom Beijing and Huawei sign an MoU for "5G Capital"

April 8, 2020 - BEIJING, CHINA: At the China Unicom Beijing and Huawei Release Conference of "5G Capital" Joint Innovation, China Unicom Beijing and Huawei signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the "5G Capital" joint innovation project. The project aims to improve 5G networks for both users and industries in the new era of 5G development.

Based on this project, the two parties will further 5G technological innovation and 5G rapid commercial adoption. They will also continue to promote 5G smart services and explore business modes, contributing to the quick development of “New Infrastructure” to keep high-quality sustained economic development. This will better enable the two parties to build 5G leadership in technology, business, and social responsibility in Beijing and transform this city into a global 5G benchmark.

MoU signing between China Unicom Beijing and Huawei

Mr. Yang Lifan, Deputy General Manager of China Unicom Beijing, Mr. Fan Liqun, General Manager of the Network Development Department of China Unicom Beijing, and Mr. Ritchie Peng, CMO of Huawei's Wireless Network Product Line, gave keynote speeches on the "5G Capital" joint innovation project.

Mr. Tang Xiongyan, a Chief Scientist of China Unicom Network Technology Research Institute, Mr. Zhou Yi, General Director of China Carrier Wireless Network & Cloud Core Network Marketing & Solution Sales Department of Huawei, and Mr. Zhao Ming, Director of China Unicom Beijing Account Department of Huawei also attended the MoU signing event.

According to the "5G Capital" MoU, China Unicom Beijing and Huawei will conduct pilot programs for six innovative solutions, explore value monetization of four 5G smart services, and implement two major showcase projects in 2020. Both parties will collaborate closely to improve the end to end (E2E) 5G models from applications, terminals, networks, and businesses. This will place the two parties in a unique position to further promote 5G applications in diversified scenarios and create a global 5G benchmark.

The two parties will continue to improve 5G networks and services through the pilot programs for six innovative solutions. In the first year of 5G commercial adoption, China Unicom Beijing has successfully brought high-quality 5G services to a number of landmark buildings in Beijing. These include the 2019 International Horticultural Exhibition parks, China Media Group's headquarters towers, and the National Stadium, better known as Bird's Nest.

2020 is seeing 5G enter a new stage of full-network coverage. The two parties will collaborate to implement commercial adoption of a variety of products. These include the ultra-bandwidth 5G LampSite, 5G Indoor Distributed Massive MIMO, LampSite EE, Super Uplink, 8T8R Easy Macro, and 5G SA slicing technologies based on 5G macro, pole, and indoor solutions. This will offer extra advantages for China Unicom Beijing to construct dual Gigabit networks in both indoor and outdoor scenarios and provide users with faster and better 5G services of greater diversity.

Value monetization of four 5G smart services reflects the proactive exploration of the two parties in vertical industries. In 2019, the two parties have made vigorous trials in vertical industries. In particular, 5G networks have demonstrated a significant role in improved travel experience for passengers in the Beijing Daxing International Airport and efficient medical assistance in the telemedicine sector.

The exploration in vertical industries will continue in 2020. Encouraged by the call for new-infrastructure developments, the two parties will focus on the expansion of industrial 5G services in smart healthcare, smart venues, smart parks, and smart campuses in 2020.

Additionally, the two parties will jointly implement major showcase projects for the financial street in Beijing's Xicheng District, Beijing Capital International Airport, and Beijing Daxing International Airport. These locations are extremely popular in Beijing with a vast number of domestic and international users. China Unicom Beijing has always placed a high importance to ensuring network services there. In 2020, the two parties will continue to leverage 5G series innovative solutions to efficiently construct leading 5G showcase networks that deliver wide coverage, high speed, and premium experiences.

"We initiated the 5G NEXT program in 2018 to accelerate 5G ecosystem development. As of April 7, 2020, China Unicom Beijing has gained more than one million 5G users, and Beijing has become the first city to see 5G user numbers exceed one million. This proves that our earlier 5G strategies have achieved their expected results," said Mr. Yang Lifan, Deputy General Manager of China Unicom Beijing. "At present, the government is vigorously promoting new infrastructure. China Unicom Beijing will seize this opportunity to make new breakthroughs. In 2020, we will work with Huawei in implementing the "5G Capital" Joint Innovation project, taking 5G development in Beijing to new heights. We will continue to focus on 5G innovation and in-depth exploration and proactive utilization of various new services through diverse business models. We hope that this project will enable us to draw on each other's strength to set up a global benchmark in 5G networks and applications, so as to develop smart cities and help sustain economic development."

Mr. Ritchie Peng, CMO of Huawei Wireless Network Product Line, said: "Huawei's leadership in network solutions is attributed to the long-term persistent strategic cooperation with global operators. Joint development and tests are the essential basis for transforming leading technologies and products into business value. We are happy to join China Unicom Beijing in implementing the "5G Capital" project. Through leading technologies, we will continue to assist China Unicom Beijing in constructing stronger 5G networks that bring 5G services to both users and various industries. This will better enable 5G networks to become the basic networks that empower digital transformation across industries.

"5G Capital" project is a joint innovation project of Huawei and Beijing Unicom. It is one of the innovation projects of the 2020 "5G City" series city projects.