CHINA MOBILE recently released its 5G Smartphone Whitepaper (2026 Edition), outlining a systematic plan for 5G network development and future terminal technology trends. As of now, CHINA MOBILE has built and activated over 2.65 million 5G base stations, achieving coverage for 96% of the national population and more than 93% of administrative villages, with 5G service users exceeding 599 million.

According to the whitepaper, CHINA MOBILE will continue optimizing 5G network coverage in both breadth and depth by 2026, focusing on constructing a high-quality multi-band collaborative 5G network system. The company will also accelerate the large-scale deployment and practical application of 5G-Advanced (5G-A) technology.

In terms of terminal functionality, starting from July 1, 2026, all smartphones priced at 4,000 yuan or above must support native BeiDou messaging. Smartphone brands are required to ensure that at least one model integrates both BeiDou messaging and BeiDou positioning-communication fusion capabilities, with mass production and sales. For devices priced below 4,000 yuan, integrating native BeiDou messaging is strongly recommended.

All 5G smartphones must incorporate CHINA MOBILE’s designated BeiDou messaging terminal SDK. Devices adopting native solutions must strictly comply with the functional requirements specified in CHINA MOBILE’s BeiDou Messaging Terminal Technical Specifications, while non-native solutions must meet the corresponding technical standards.

Additionally, starting January 1, 2026, all smartphones with Tiantong satellite communication capabilities must simultaneously support CHINA MOBILE’s Tiantong satellite communication service. These devices must also comply with the technical specifications and access requirements outlined in CHINA MOBILE’s Shared Tiantong Satellite Communication Terminal Technical Guidelines.