China deployed 5.1 million 5G base stations and achieved 2185 EFLOPS of computing power in the first half of 2026
China deployed 5.1 million 5G base stations and achieved 2185 EFLOPS of computing power in the first half of 2026. Digital infrastructure is not just cables and antennas — it is the circulatory system of the modern economy. Every new base station, every teraflop of computing power brings the country closer to a future where intelligent services are accessible to everyone, and industry operates with unprecedented efficiency. The growth in the number of 5G stations and computing power in China is not just statistics but the foundation for new technologies, from autonomous transport to smart factories.
As announced at a press conference in Beijing on Monday by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), China's telecommunications infrastructure continues to improve steadily, supporting the rapid expansion of digital services and industrial applications. A ministry spokesperson highlighted significant achievements in the sector, noting that by the end of June, more than 5.1 million 5G base stations had been deployed nationwide. "By the end of June, there were 5.102 million 5G base stations and 32.86 million 10G PON ports for gigabit network services across the country. The Chinese government is actively promoting the commercial construction of 5G‑A networks and implementing pilot deployments of 10 Gbps optical networks in residential areas, factories, parks and other locations. China's intelligent computing capacity reached 2,185 EFLOPS, up 177 percent year‑on‑year," said Xie Cun, a MIIT spokesperson and Director‑General of the Ministry's Department of Information and Communication Technology. "Information and communication technologies have significantly strengthened the real economy, and more than 80,000 virtual private networks have been created nationwide within the 5G industry. The application of 5G and 1 Gbps optical networks has expanded to 94 major economic sectors, and more than 26,000 '5G plus industrial internet' projects are under construction across the country, along with 1,260 5G‑powered factories, each with a clear classification and unique operational profile," he said. He noted that the overall strength of the telecommunications sector is steadily growing. The variety of 5G‑based intelligent terminals continues to expand, with products such as smartphones, computers, robots, AI glasses and AI toys becoming new popular sources of information. "Through efforts to expand pilot programmes for opening up additional telecommunications services, significant results have been achieved in attracting and utilising foreign investment. To date, the number of foreign‑invested telecommunications enterprises has reached 3,219, up 23.9 percent year‑on‑year," Xie said.
China continues to lead the world in 5G deployment and computing infrastructure development. The active construction of 5G‑A and 10 Gbps optical networks is creating the foundation for industrial internet, smart cities and new digital services. As CCTV+ reports. The growing number of foreign‑invested enterprises in the telecommunications sector reflects the increasing attractiveness of the Chinese market for global players and the country's openness to international cooperation.
