Corona Virus Outbreak Delays the Launch of 5G in China

China’s ambition to launch a 5G telecommunications network seems to be delayed because the government is currently busy coping with the coronavirus outbreak.

Reporting from Reuters , China has made 5G a national priority. However, tenders for six large 5G projects have been postponed since January 31, 2020 due to the spread of the corona virus.

The delay in launching the 5G is due to the two leading companies providing fiber optic cables that have their headquarters and main production facilities in Wuhan city still not fully operational.

“If cellular operators cannot get optical fiber, they may delay the purchase of a 5G base station,” said Edison Lee, an analyst at Jeffries.

Yangtze Optical Fiber and Cable Joint Stock Ltd. Co., one of the suppliers of fiber optic cables in Wuhan uses factories in other cities and operates only with a capacity of 50%.

FiberHome Telecommunication Technologies Co. Ltd, another fiber optic cable supplier based in Wuhan said on its official website that they are trying to keep the operation running through remote work.