China Telecom and ZTE join forces to boost Shandong's rural revitalization via 5G-powered digital transformation

800MHz 5G breakthroughs and IoT integration drive a new model of rural digital transformation

Partner Content Dedicated to advancing society through digital technology, China Telecom Shandong and ZTE Corporation have launched a landmark collaboration to build a comprehensive framework for rural digital transformation—with 5G networks identified as the core pillar supporting rural revitalization.

As a major agricultural province, Shandong is home to over 33 million rural residents, and agricultural land accounts for 70% of its total area. This unique context makes it a key pilot region for bridging the urban-rural digital divide. The partnership not only represents deep integration of technology and resources but also vividly demonstrates how strategic telecommunications infrastructure can unlock rural economic potential and drive balanced regional development.

Next-Gen Network Architecture: 800MHz Spectrum Innovation Reinvents Rural Connectivity

In rural network development, China Telecom Shandong and ZTE have achieved breakthrough innovations. Building on the existing 2.1G and 3.5G frequency bands, the two parties leveraged the propagation advantages of the 800MHz band and integrated advanced ADSS (All-Dielectric Self-Supporting) technology to establish a high-efficiency dual-mode network. This network supports both 4G and 5G services simultaneously, marking a leap forward in rural connectivity capabilities.

The impact of this technological innovation is immediate: base station energy consumption has been cut by 50%, while spectrum efficiency has increased by 30%. This not only reduces costs and boosts efficiency but also lays a solid foundation for the long-term stable operation of rural networks. To date, the deployment of 800MHz 5G networks across Shandong has been fully completed, achieving 100% coverage of all towns and townships. Average download speeds have tripled, creating a robust, high-quality digital network that seamlessly connects Shandong's rural areas to the digital age.

Furthermore, the integration of 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability) technology has further unlocked "Internet of Things (IoT) for all" in rural areas. The large-scale IoT connectivity enabled by this technology provides critical infrastructure support for the promotion of smart agriculture applications and the development of rural digital ecosystems.

Transformative Applications: Building a Closed-Loop Digital Ecosystem for Rural Revitalization

This 5G-driven rural transformation has delivered tangible results in three key areas—smart agriculture, rural e-commerce, and digital governance—activating rural economic vitality and significantly improving rural residents' quality of life.

In smart agriculture, the jointly developed "Qilu Agricultural Cloud" platform serves as a core driver. Powered by 5G+AIoT (5G + Artificial Intelligence of Things) capabilities, the platform has helped shift agricultural production away from traditional "experience and weather-dependent" practices toward a modern model of "data-driven, precision management". As a provincial-level digital ecosystem platform, it functions both as an agricultural data hub—aggregating key data on production, markets, and weather across the province—and a service portal, providing farmers and cooperatives with end-to-end support from crop guidance to market access.

In rural e-commerce, technological innovation has opened a path for agricultural products to "command premium prices for high quality". In Weifang, blockchain traceability technology has been deeply integrated into agricultural supply chains—each certified product now has a traceable, tamper-proof "digital ID". This initiative has not only helped certified agricultural products achieve a 50% price premium but also set new standards for food safety and brand credibility in the sector.

Notably, the accessibility of mobile networks has also created new employment opportunities: a large number of rural women have entered the live-streaming industry, turning fields and under fruit trees into their "studios". This has not only increased their income but also allowed them to realize their value in the digital era, significantly enhancing their sense of well-being.

In rural digital governance, the deployment of an integrated digital village cloud platform has elevated rural management to a new level of "smart operation". By integrating 5G, IoT, and cloud computing technologies, the platform combines government services, resource management, and public services into a single system. This has improved the efficiency of rural public services, optimized resource allocation, and injected new momentum into the modernization of rural governance.

Future Plans: Replicating Success to Extend 5G Benefits to More Rural Areas

The collaboration between China Telecom and ZTE in Shandong has not only provided a mature, "technologically advanced and practically feasible" solution for local rural digitalization but also set a benchmark for public-private partnerships in China's national rural revitalization strategy.

Looking ahead, the two parties plan to expand their cooperation in two key directions: first, extending their collaboration to the deep integration of smart tourism and digital governance to unlock the diverse value of rural areas; second, replicating Shandong's successful experience in less developed rural regions in southwest and northeast China. By doing so, they aim to position 5G technology as an "engine" for sustainable rural development, helping build a more inclusive digital economy and ensuring that the benefits of digitalization reach more rural residents.

Contributed by ZTE.