曾风靡全国的5G技术，为何突然“哑火”了？

Core Viewpoint - The article critiques the current state of 5G technology, highlighting the gap between its promised revolutionary applications and the reality of its usage, which has largely devolved into basic speed tests and limited industrial applications [1][3][16]. Group 1: Investment and Infrastructure - In 2019, major telecom operators invested over 1 trillion yuan to build 5G infrastructure, resulting in 2.844 million 5G base stations across China, achieving 100% coverage in county-level cities [3]. - Despite the extensive infrastructure, the average revenue per user (ARPU) for telecom operators increased only by 5 yuan, indicating a lack of profitability from the 5G investments [6][12]. - The operational costs for maintaining 5G networks are significantly higher, with individual base stations consuming three times the electricity of 4G, leading to substantial annual electricity costs [12]. Group 2: Application and Market Reality - The most common application of 5G has been for speed testing, with users primarily sharing speed test screenshots on social media, rather than utilizing advanced features like remote surgeries [3][16]. - Many enterprises are still relying on traditional applications, with 90% of businesses using 5G for basic surveillance rather than innovative solutions [3]. - The automotive industry, which was expected to leverage 5G for autonomous driving, continues to rely on 4G and WiFi due to insufficient 5G infrastructure [9]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - The competition among domestic companies like Huawei, ZTE, and Datang has led to a drastic reduction in base station prices, resulting in thin profit margins [14]. - Internationally, companies face challenges from patent wars, with Qualcomm charging fees to both smartphone and automotive manufacturers, complicating the market dynamics [14]. - Apple has emerged as a significant beneficiary, achieving a 38% gross margin on 5G smartphones, while Chinese companies struggle with low profitability in network infrastructure [14]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The article suggests that the hype surrounding 5G has transitioned into a more cautious perspective, emphasizing that technological breakthroughs must be matched by viable commercial applications to succeed [16]. - The experience with 5G serves as a lesson for future technologies like 6G, indicating that without practical applications, even the fastest networks may not deliver value [16].