China Tower says 5.6 million base stations and a pair of.1 million tower websites in China are being revamped for AI.
In sum – what to know:
Good infra shift – China Tower is changing 2.1 million tower websites into clever, multi-use digital nodes for AI, IoT, drone operations, and underground connectivity.
Inexperienced design – Photo voltaic, battery storage, and good power techniques are decreasing emissions and creating emergency-ready, zero-carbon base stations.
House integration – 70% of BeiDou satellite tv for pc stations now depend on China Tower’s community, because it expands assist for space-air-ground communications and next-gen mobility.
China Tower is reimagining its huge telecom infrastructure into a wise, safe, and shared digital spine to energy China’s subsequent stage of digital transformation, chairman Chi-Yong Chang stated throughout his keynote at MWC Shanghai 2025.
The corporate’s 5.6 million base stations and a pair of.1 million tower websites are being made into into clever hubs for superior functions equivalent to edge computing, underground connectivity, AI-powered providers, and low-altitude drone networks, he stated.
“With 900,000 new base stations constructed per yr since 2014, we’re enabling one of many highest-quality cellular networks in historical past,” Chang stated. He stated shared infrastructure and efficiency-focused design have allowed the corporate to cut back prices considerably whereas enhancing each protection and resilience.
A significant pillar of this transformation is the repurposing of towers into multi-use digital infrastructure. China Tower is now enabling a broader ecosystem – from IoT and good cities to low-altitude aviation – whereas additionally supporting satellite tv for pc web operators. Notably, 70% of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite tv for pc System’s floor stations now function on China Tower’s websites.
Chang additionally highlighted the corporate’s clear power technique. Base stations are being outfitted with photo voltaic panels, battery storage, and DC energy provide techniques, serving to cut back emissions and meet zero-carbon objectives. Good power administration techniques have been extensively deployed to enhance effectivity and sustainability.
Past ground-level connectivity, China Tower is increasing into digital infrastructure for underground environments. In Xiongnu, the corporate has rolled out indoor satellite tv for pc navigation throughout 1.5 million sq. meters of underground parking, enabling automobile steerage and monitoring in advanced subterranean areas.
Emergency readiness is one other precedence. Chang stated the corporate has developed seven layers of preparedness, together with early warning techniques, gear stockpiles, and fast telecom restoration capabilities.
Trying forward, China Tower is strengthening its position in space-air-ground built-in networks, supporting future improvements in autonomous transport and ultra-secure communications. “We need to make connectivity as seamless and important as water, gasoline and air,” stated Chang, calling for ecosystem-wide collaboration in requirements, innovation and functions.
China Tower was fashioned in 2014 in 2014 by way of the consolidation of towers from China Cellular, China Unicom and China Telecom. The three operators presently maintain stakes of 38%, 28.1%, and 27.9%, respectively, with the remaining 6% owned by China Reform Holdings.
