As 5G promises super-fast download speeds and ability to support everything from VR to autonomous cars, the top-down approach being pushed by the Chinese government has the country out to an early lead in the arms race. 5G first appeared commercially during the Winter Games in South Korea in February.
"The West's problem is our powerful wireless incumbents' commercial interests are currently aligned with the Chinese model and so they will resist a game changing move. "The stakes are high, they encompass everything from commerce to defense. 5G will be one of the deep 'blue oceans' of the 'cyber' domain, which is now just as important as land, sea, air or space. It's hard to overstate how important the war for 5G is — right now, China perhaps understands it better than almost anyone. That said, I still think the U.S. or even Europe or the U.K. has what it takes to win."