Explainer: The debut of 5G

This year's Two Sessions is set to go down in history from a technological perspective, with 5G making headlines for the first time.

5G has achieved full coverage in Tiananmen Square, the Great Hall of the People, the official press center, and many hotels where NPC deputies and CPPCC National Committee members are staying during the annual sessions. 5G is also available within China's state media including People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency and China Media Group. 

Using 5G, reporters are able to transfer photos and videos at super-fast speeds and broadcast live in high-definition. It also provides NPC deputies and CPPCC National Committee members with a faster and smarter online working environment. 

5G, meaning the 5th generation of wireless technology, is one of the fastest technologies the world has ever seen. Upload speeds can reach up to 200 Mbps (million bits per second) and download speeds can reach 2.6 Gbps (billion bits per second), which means it would only take you 3 seconds to download a 1GB HD movie.

The 5G-enabled Two Sessions signals China is moving forwards into the 5G era. According to Miao Wei, Minister of Industry and Information Technology, China will grant temporary 5G licenses this year. These will be allocated in a number of cities to enable the large-scale construction of 5G networks in key regions.

In the dawn of the 5G era, China is leading the way. Theoretically 66 times faster than current WiFi networks, 5G networks are expected to boost economic development and present great opportunities for the nation and for the world.