In the 5G era, Chinese manufacturers are set to play a more significant role on the global stage. As the first mobile communication standard that China and the world have developed together, 5G has given Chinese industry a unique opportunity to break through and surpass from deeper levels, marking a historical turning point.
By the end of 2017, the first version of the NSA (Non-Standalone) standard under 3GPP was finalized, taking a crucial step toward the establishment and operation of a commercial 5G network. Today, the IMT-2020 (5G) Promotion Team in China held its third phase of 5G technology R&D trials in Beijing, releasing the first batch of specifications for this phase. Through these trials, it is expected that the main links of the 5G industry chain will reach pre-commercial readiness by the end of 2018, accelerating the development of 5G and laying a solid foundation for large-scale testing and commercial deployment. This marks a critical step before full commercialization.
Spreadtrum, a leading Chinese semiconductor company, has been actively positioning itself in the 5G landscape. According to Wang Yanhui from the China Mobile Alliance, as the mobile industry has grown, so too has the entire supply chain, including integrated circuits. Companies like Spreadtrum have emerged as key players. Spreadtrum has clearly prioritized 5G R&D as a core strategy, allocating resources and budget accordingly. With strong support from Ziguang, the company has established a dedicated 5G product team, aiming to align with national strategies and leverage new technologies to compete globally.
Unlike previous generations, China now holds a prominent position in 5G standards, commercialization, and chip development. To break free from monopolies and ensure autonomy, patent development has become a top priority. Spreadtrum initiated early research into 5G core technologies in 2015, while its standardization team worked systematically to interpret all aspects of the standard, supporting both prototypes and chip development.
Collaboration with domestic universities and research institutions has also been key. Spreadtrum has engaged in joint research, shared patents, and advanced standardization efforts, significantly expanding its intellectual property portfolio.
In addition to internal R&D, Spreadtrum has accelerated the development of terminal prototypes and chips in parallel with standardization. The company completed air interface tests with base station equipment, passed two-stage scale tests, and launched a floating-point simulation platform within a month of the NSA standard being finalized. It also finalized the terminal chip architecture and provided initial evaluations on key metrics such as power consumption and chip area.
On January 16, the IMT-2020 Promotion Team released the first batch of specifications for the third phase of 5G R&D experiments. Spreadtrum followed closely, using the PilotV2 prototype and chip to meet technical requirements and conduct interoperability testing. A chip-level verification platform was used to evaluate 5G terminal solutions, and the first chip supporting the 3GPP R15 5G standard was launched according to the schedule.
Looking ahead, Spreadtrum aims to become a top-tier player in 5G chip manufacturing. In 2018, it participated in field tests conducted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, using a prototype platform and later a chip reference design. The company plans to launch the first 5G chip supporting the R15 standard by the end of the year.
5G represents a huge opportunity. According to forecasts by the China Institute of Information and Communications Technology, by 2030, 5G could drive direct economic output of 6.3 trillion yuan, add 2.9 trillion yuan to GDP, and create 8 million jobs. Indirectly, it could generate 10.6 trillion yuan in total output and 3.6 trillion yuan in economic growth, creating 11.5 million additional jobs.
However, challenges remain. One major issue is the flexibility of the 5G standard, which provides a broad framework but allows for many variable parameters. This makes it difficult for chip developers to define exact configurations without further constraints.
To address this, Spreadtrum has built in sufficient software processing capabilities and collaborates closely with industry partners to refine specifications based on real-world applications. In the smartphone market, which is growing at a slower pace, 5G offers new possibilities. While the market may be cooling down, it’s not a downturn—it’s a period of adjustment. New applications in AI, AR/VR, and high-resolution video are expected to drive demand.
Finally, officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology emphasized the importance of following international standards, building a complete industry ecosystem, advancing frequency planning, and promoting business applications. As China leads in 5G standard-setting and commercial progress, local companies now have a golden chance to capture market share and gain an edge in future competition.
Beyond smartphones, 5G will open up opportunities in industrial internet, smart manufacturing, autonomous driving, drones, and cloud services. For chipmakers, keeping up with evolving standards is essential—each standard must be locked, verified, and implemented. As 5G expands, the future looks promising for those ready to embrace the change.
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