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Tech predictions for China in 2020: The rise of 5G and the end of cheap streaming

Here’s our take on what’s to come in the next 12 months from gamified music apps to PlayStation games made and designed in China

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Tech predictions for China in 2020: The rise of 5G and the end of cheap streaming
This article originally appeared on ABACUS

5G gets a boost

5G is already in China, with the country launching the world’s largest 5G mobile network in late 2019. Initial coverage is still sparse, with 4G stations far outstripping 5G in some major cities. But things are poised to get better in 2020. 
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A China Mobile advertisement for 5G internet at the railway station in Hangzhou on December 3, 2019. (Picture: Hector Retamal/AFP)
A China Mobile advertisement for 5G internet at the railway station in Hangzhou on December 3, 2019. (Picture: Hector Retamal/AFP)
Chinese consumers can expect more choices and cheaper prices for 5G handsets. Around one in five 5G phones will cost less than 2,000 yuan (US$286), according to research firm IDC. Later in the year, Apple is expected to launch its first 5G iPhone, kicking off another wave of device upgrades. As more people sign up for 5G network plans, carriers will likely respond to market needs by turning on more 5G base stations. - Karen Chiu

 

Console games in China

The Nintendo Switch finally arrived in China in December… but with only one game approved for sale so far thanks to China’s strict media regulations. But that doesn’t seem to have doused the scorching excitement some people have for the popular mobile console. On launch day, market researcher Niko Partners estimated that more than 50,000 units of the device might have been sold.

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