Shenzhen aims to become a world-class innovative model city for ultrafast broadband with world-leading network supply capacity and service levels by the end of 2024, according to an action plan released March 15.

The city will feature a ubiquitous, advanced, high-speed, and intelligent new information infrastructure supply system by the end of 2024, according to the plan released by the city’s industry and information technology bureau.

The plan involves 18 primary tasks and focuses on four key aspects — 5G-advanced (5G-A) deployment, convergence of computing and the internet, integration of satellite and internet infrastructure, and prioritizing applications.

By the end of this year, Shenzhen plans to build an additional 3,000 5G base stations. 5G-A network demonstration zones will be constructed in key areas like the Futian CBD and Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base. The city will also upgrade over 5,000 5G stations to 5G-A technology.

The city will promote the planning and construction of data centers, add 30,000 standard racks, and build 10 data centers for industrial parks and 15 edge computing centers. Edge computing is a distributed computing paradigm that brings computation and data storage closer to the location where it is needed, improving response times and saving bandwidth.

The city also aims to advance the construction of the National Supercomputing Shenzhen Center Phase II project. It will establish a satellite broadband direct connection lab and have more than eight locally built remote sensing satellites launched this year. The city will also strive to achieve full internet coverage on flights to and from Shenzhen within two years.

Taking advantages of the opportunity presented by the 15th National Games, which will be co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao next year, the city will create 100 model sports venues for high-quality network connectivity, such as the Shenzhen Sports Center, Shenzhen Bay Sports Center, and Shenzhen Grand Theater. 

The city will also provide gigabit fiber-optic broadband to 1 million households. The capabilities of ultrafast broadband play a critical role in supporting the infrastructure needed for advanced technologies and services such as smart homes, Internet of Things devices, telemedicine, and remote working and learning environments.