China to give whole nation 4G coverage by 2018

A mobile phone user walks past a logo of China Mobile's 4G service in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/China Daily]

BEIJING - China aims to cover all its urban and rural areas with 4G network by 2018, according to an action plan published by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on Monday.

The country also plans to install fiber optics in more than 80 percent of its villages, according to the MIIT's three-year action plan "Internet Plus."

With regard to the upgrading of network infrastructure, the ministry set the target of "basically completing a broadband-based, integrated, ubiquitous and secure next-generation national information infrastructure."

To achieve this, China will channel more energy into the promotion of 4G, and boost research and development of 5G, according to the action plan.

The MIIT's plan is part of the Internet Plus action plan, which was unveiled in July.

The action plan will integrate mobile Internet, cloud computing, big data and the Internet of Things with modern manufacturing to encourage the healthy development of e-commerce, industrial networks, and Internet banking, and to help Internet companies increase their international presence.