Recently, the UK's decision to build a 5G network has attracted global attention. A multi-billion-dollar effort to dismantle Chinese companies' communications equipment has now had unintended consequences: London's 5G network experience ranks lowest among major cities in Europe, and more than 7 in 10 young people in the UK are dissatisfied with the speed. This situation not only exposes the shortcomings of the UK in the construction of 5G networks, but also highlights the huge funding gap and industrial development dilemma behind the decision.
Since 2022, the UK has begun to plan to dismantle Chinese enterprise communication equipment in China. After several postponements, it will finally be implemented at the end of 2023. However, just two months later, Britain was in an awkward position. According to data from network surveying firm Mediux, London's 5G network experience ranks last among major cities in more than 10 European countries, including Paris and Berlin. This result is shocking, after all, the construction of 5G networks in the UK was already lagging behind before the dismantling of Chinese equipment.
In fact, the dilemma of 5G network construction in the UK goes far beyond that. Since most 5G networks are built by private operators, construction in sparsely populated areas is slow due to high construction costs and low revenues. This not only affects the network coverage, but also makes it impossible for many Brits to enjoy stable network services in public places such as the subway.
What is even more worrying is the dismantling of Chinese enterprises.
The hundreds of billions of dollars needed for equipment, and the more than $160 billion needed to continue building 5G networks, put the UK under huge financial pressure. At the moment, there is still a lot of funding gap in the UK, which means that the construction of its 5G network may be slower than expected.
This decision not only affects the UK's network construction, but also poses a potential threat to the development of its emerging industries. As the cornerstone of emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, unmanned driving, and smart cities, the lag in the construction of 5G networks will seriously restrict the development of these industries. Globally, these new technologies and industries are receiving a lot of attention, and the UK may be missing out on development opportunities.
**10,000 Fans Incentive Plan In addition, local communication companies in the UK have also expressed dissatisfaction with this decision. Dismantling equipment that has already been built not only requires significant expenditure, but can also affect its normal operation. This situation of "tearing out the problem" has put the UK in a difficult situation in the construction of 5G networks.
Overall, the UK's decision to dismantle 5G communications equipment from Chinese companies does not seem to have had the desired effect. On the contrary, it has fallen into a more embarrassing situation in the construction of 5G networks. From the bottom of the network experience to the prominent funding gap, this decision not only costs the UK a huge economy, but is also likely to have a long-term impact on the development of its emerging industries. This is undoubtedly a wake-up call for other countries to build 5G networks: while pursuing security, they must also fully consider many factors such as technology, economy and industrial development.