Overview of China Broadcasting Network
China Broadcasting Network Corporation Ltd. (abbreviated as "China Broadcasting Network") is China's fourth-largest basic telecom operator. It was established in 2014, launched nationwide commercial services in 2021, and officially issued numbers in the 192 range in June 2022. By the end of September 2024, 5G subscribers reached 29.3662 million, approaching 30 million; over 705,000 700MHz 5G base stations were jointly built and shared with China Mobile; more than 4 million 4G/5G base stations are actually dispatchable, achieving full coverage above town level and key coverage in rural hotspot areas. China Broadcasting Network is supervised by the National Radio and Television Administration and has a unique background in media and communication integration.
Development History and Milestones
2014-2019: China Broadcasting Network was officially established in April 2014, integrating cable TV networks nationwide; obtained a basic telecom business operation license; launched the nationwide cable TV network integration.
2020-2021: In 2020, it obtained a 5G commercial license and was allocated 700MHz 2×30MHz frequency; signed a 5G co-building and sharing agreement with China Mobile; began nationwide commercial operations in 2021.
2022-present: In June 2022, numbers in the 192 range were officially issued; fully completed 700MHz frequency migration and single-frequency network deployment (the world's largest frequency migration project); 5G users approached 30 million in 2024; plans to grow to 50 million mobile users by 2025.
Basic Information of China Broadcasting and Television (2024)
- Establishment Date: 2014 (Commercial Use: 2021, Number Allocation: June 2022)
- Headquarters: Beijing
- Supervisory Department: National Radio and Television Administration
- 5G Users: 29.3662 million (September 2024)
- 700MHz Base Stations: 705,000 (Jointly Built and Shared)
- Deployable base stations: Over 4 million
- Core frequency band: 700MHz (5G NR n28)
- Number segment: 192
- Coverage: Full coverage for towns and above, focused coverage for rural hotspots
- 700MHz advantage: Single-station coverage capacity is 8.6 times that of 3.5GHz
The most important core asset of China Broadcasting Network is the 700MHz golden frequency band — internationally recognized as one of the optimal 5G frequency bands. 700MHz has strong penetration and wide coverage, achieving broader coverage with fewer base stations, making it especially suitable for rural and IoT scenarios. Co-building and sharing with China Mobile has accelerated network construction, and the 700MHz frequency migration is the largest frequency migration project in the world.
Core Technology Advantages
700 MHz band
Described as one of the better 5G bands: one site covers about ten times the area of 2.6 GHz, with strong penetration through walls and buildings
Integration of Broadcasting and Media Assets
Combining broadcast and television content resources with 5G networks to provide broadcasting-featured integrated media IoT solutions
Rural Coverage Advantage
The 700MHz low-frequency band has outstanding coverage advantages in remote rural areas, suitable for agricultural IoT applications
Co-construction and sharing
Co-build and share 5G networks with China Mobile to quickly gain nationwide 5G infrastructure coverage capability
IoT advantages of the 700MHz band
Why 700 MHz matters for IoT
- Super coverage: A single 700MHz base station can cover a radius of 5-10km, with a coverage area dozens of times that of higher frequency bands
- Deep penetration: Excellent wall and building penetration capabilities, suitable for IoT deployment in special scenarios such as basements, mines, and pipelines
- Low power consumption: Devices consume less power when communicating on low-frequency bands, extending the battery life of IoT sensors
- Rural Coverage: In remote rural areas, extensive coverage can be achieved with fewer base stations, reducing deployment costs
- NB-IoT Compatibility: The 700MHz band also supports NB-IoT deployment, enabling ultra-low-power wide-area IoT
IoT Product System
IoT SIM services
China Broadnet IoT SIM
- Standard SIM/eSIM specifications
- 700MHz 5G coverage
- Flexible data plan
- Full lifecycle management
Integrated communication services
- Broadcasting + 5G integrated data plan
- Broadcasting content distribution IoT
- Rural informationization services
- Emergency Communication Guarantee
Network standards and coverage
| Technical Standard | Frequency band | Coverage | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5G NR | 700MHz (n28) | Nationwide co-construction and shared coverage | Advantage of low-frequency wide coverage |
| 4G LTE | 700MHz | Shared network with China Mobile | Main network during the transition |
| NB-IoT | 700MHz | Deployment Planning | Low-Power IoT |
| Wired Broadband | Fiber Optics | Relying on cable television networks | Home IoT gateway |
How it differs from the other three operators
China Broadcasting Network and the other three operators
Industry application scenarios
Agricultural Internet of Things
- Remote farmland sensors
- Agricultural equipment tracking
- Rural environmental monitoring
- Agricultural product cold chain management
Broadcasting special applications
- Smart broadcast monitoring
- Cable TV terminal IoT
- Emergency broadcast system
- Broadcast content distribution
Public Safety
- Emergency Communication Guarantee
- Underground facility monitoring
- Mine safety monitoring
- Natural disaster early warning
Smart Home
- Broadcast Home Gateway
- Smart Home Control
- Home Security System
- Elderly Health Monitoring
Development Strategy and Prospects
700 MHz spectrum
Use the 700 MHz band to offer a low-frequency IoT connection that is distinct from the higher bands
Innovation in Broadcasting and Television Integration
Explore innovative business models integrating broadcasting and television with the Internet of Things
Rural Digitalization
Focus on the digitalization of rural areas, serving the rural revitalization strategy
Differentiated Positioning
Seek differentiated competition in specific industries and scenarios, rather than fully confronting the three major operators
Summary of Competitive Advantages
- 700MHz Exclusivity: Possesses 700MHz golden frequency band resources that the other three major operators do not have
- Broadcast Background: Unique broadcasting, television content and media resources
- Rural Coverage: The low-frequency band has obvious cost advantages for coverage in rural areas
- Policy Support: National policy supports the development of the 'fourth operator,' promoting a diversified competitive landscape
- Shared Infrastructure: The co-construction and sharing agreement with China Mobile ensures basic network capability
Where this network fits
Deployments that match the 700 MHz network
- Rural Remote Areas: 700MHz low-frequency signals have strong penetration and long coverage, suitable for deploying in areas with weak network infrastructure such as rural sensors, water conservancy monitoring, and agricultural IoT.
- Underground and Indoor Scenarios: 700MHz signals have significant advantages in penetrating buildings such as underground garages, tunnels, and factories.
- Large-Scale Low-Frequency NB-IoT: Using China Broadcasting Network's 700MHz to deploy NB-IoT is suitable for large-scale deployment of low-power sensor networks.
- Integration in the Broadcasting Industry: Scenarios such as smart homes and media transmission that require the integration of broadcast television and IoT capabilities.
- Policy-sensitive industries: Large enterprise customers that hope to introduce multiple operators to compete in order to reduce dependency risks