The following document is a Chinese government plan for the expansion of 5G telecommunications technology. The plan sets numerous goals for the integration of 5G with many sectors of the economy, with particular emphasis on the development of 5G standards that increase interoperability. Relative to a draft version of the plan earlier translated by CSET, this final version adds goals for 5G applications in vehicles and omits a call to bring Chinese 5G security evaluation institutions into line with international practice.

An archived version of the Chinese source text is available online at:    https://perma.cc/9W3T-4J9U

“Set Sail” Action Plan for 5G Applications

(2021-2023)¹

5G fusion applications are an important engine driving economic and social digitalization, networkization (网络化), and intelligentization (智能化). This plan has been especially drawn up in order to: Implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s instructions regarding the acceleration of 5G development, give major impetus to the comprehensive, coordinated development of 5G, thoroughly carry forward the 5G empowerment of countless businesses and industries, spur the formation of a high-level development model in which “demand pulls supply, and supply creates demand,” drive the upgrading of modes of production, living, and governance, and foster new dynamism (新动能) to expand economic and social development.

I. Overall Requirements

(a) Guiding Ideology

While taking Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide, and comprehensively implementing the spirit of the 19th Party Congress and the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Plenums of the 19th Central Committee, let us accomplish the following: firmly establish the new stage of development (新发展阶段), implement the new concept of development (新发展理念), construct the new pattern of development (新发展格局), orient ourselves to the main battlefield—the real economy—orient ourselves to the needs of economic and social digital transformation, carry out overall planning of development and security, adhere to the laws of 5G application development, make an effort to link together 5G application innovation chains, production chains, and supply chains, coordinate and push ahead with technology fusion, industry fusion, data fusion, and standards fusion, create new products, new business formats (新业态), and new models relating to 5G fusion applications, and provide solid support for digital transformation, intelligent upgrading, and integrating innovations in all economic and social realms.

(b) Basic Principles

Insist on the pulling force of demand. Give full play to the decisive role of the market in the allocation of resources. Reinforce the mainstay status of enterprises in 5G application development, and further unleash the demand potential of consumer markets, vertical industries, society, and people’s livelihoods (民生) vis-à-vis 5G applications. Invigorate 5G application innovation.

Persist in being innovation-driven: With a focus on the personalization requirements of 5G industry applications, intensify technological innovation, strengthen key technology and product research and development (R&D), and lay a technological and industrial foundation for 5G application development. While adhering to the objective pattern of gradually introducing 5G technologies, standards, industries, networks, and applications, stay in close tandem with international standards, and promote 5G application development in a focused way.

Persist in making breakthroughs in key areas. With a focus on 5G development key links, make an effort to solve key cross-cutting problems such as protocol and standard interoperability, the construction of an application ecosystem, and strengthening the industrial base. Support pioneering breakthroughs for key fields that are characterized by a solid foundation, a clear model, and broad prospects. Guide large-scale implementations of 5G applications for the purpose of demonstration.

Insist on coordination and linkages. Strengthen communication links among all parties, and expedite collaboration across departments, industries, and areas of research. Give free rein to the enthusiasm of industries and localities; introduce and implement new policy measures supporting 5G application development. Bring the pulling role of leading enterprises into play, and push forward deep interactions and collaboration between upstream and downstream enterprises. Form a “group competition” (“团体赛”) model.

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1. Translator’s note: CSET translated a draft version of this Action Plan into English in 2021. This translation is available online at: https://cset.georgetown.edu/publication/set-sail-action-plan-for-5g-applications-2021-2023-draft-for-comments.