China Mobile International is positioning itself to facilitate cross-border private 5G implementations. This will aid Chinese enterprises in building advanced industrial networks abroad and help global manufacturers venture into China. The company’s operator-led model and comprehensive delivery method are shaping private 5G’s adoption within global supply chains.
China leads the world with approximately 64,000 private 5G networks, propelled by cohesive regulatory policies and substantial operator-ecosystem collaboration. The demand from Chinese enterprises expanding globally necessitates turnkey private 5G solutions, achieved by collaboration with local carriers and vendors. Conversely, international companies entering China receive support through partnerships with existing system integrators and vendors, with local expertise provided by CMI.
Although China’s private 5G market is the largest globally, much of its development goes unnoticed outside of the country. CMI’s role is vital as its insights offer a unique perspective on international industrial network deployment. Sam Bao, deputy head and director of technical services in the UK for CMI, highlighted their support for Chinese businesses abroad and international businesses entering China at the Industrial Wireless Forum.
China’s leadership in the private 5G domain stems from its regulatory environment, fostering a mature ecosystem developed with ecosystem partners, including application builders and equipment suppliers. This framework assigns considerable influence to the carrier community – a structure that may not be mirrored in Western markets.
The distinct deployment models for private 5G in China—network slicing and hybrid setups – are vital. They either provide dedicated network slices for critical data flows or offer a mix where essential functions operate locally while non-critical parts remain on the public network. This ‘hybrid’ model, dominant in China, is adaptable and being increasingly replicated worldwide, regardless of available industrial spectrum.
Bao asserts, “Carriers lead the private 5G market in China because of the spectrum licensing.” This operator-centric model is scalable internationally, even in regions with available industrial spectrum. Despite concerns about relying on operators for crucial Industry 4.0 operations, China’s ecosystem offers standardized, turnkey solutions.
For Chinese and international enterprises expanding their industrial operations, private 5G becomes indispensable. CMI aligns with enterprises abroad as they expand, avoiding the complications of new supply chains by leveraging established relationships. The same model applies for international firms in China, working with existing partners for seamless integration.
CMI also highlights a vendor-neutral approach, contrary to perceptions of Chinese vendor dominance. Equipment procurement options include major global players like Ericsson and Nokia. The focus is on customization, addressing specific industry needs, with the application ecosystem integral to the offering.
This strategy underscores CMI’s commitment to offering scalable and flexible solutions, fostering cross-border industrial collaboration underpinned by their extensive 5G deployment expertise.
