Bei Jing Shang Bao·2025-08-08 06:59Core Viewpoint - The three major telecom operators in China are facing high costs in the transition to commercial 5G, prompting them to introduce new 4G packages to alleviate financial pressure and tap into the remaining potential of the 4G market [1][4]. Group 1: New 4G Packages - China Mobile launched the "Hand Q Treasure Card" with a monthly fee of 19 yuan, offering 1 yuan/GB data and free access to several apps, aiming to attract users from 2G and 3G networks [2]. - China Telecom introduced the "Filial Piety Card" targeting elderly users aged 65 and above, providing 2GB of general data, 10GB of specific app data, and 100 minutes of voice calls [2]. - China Unicom's "Wo Pai Youth Card" targets young consumers with three pricing tiers (56 yuan, 76 yuan, and 96 yuan), offering various data and membership benefits [3]. Group 2: 5G Market Challenges - Despite the rapid growth of 5G users, the high prices of 5G packages remain a significant barrier, with the cheapest 5G package from China Mobile costing 90 yuan and from China Telecom and China Unicom costing 129 yuan [4]. - The investment required for 5G infrastructure is substantially higher than for previous generations, with China Mobile's 5G-related investment reaching 1,025 billion yuan in 2020 and a projected 1,100 billion yuan in 2021 [4][6]. Group 3: 4G Market Potential - The 4G user base remains large, with China Mobile alone having 790 million 4G users as of April 2021, indicating ongoing competition in the 4G market [6]. - The transition of existing 2G and 3G users to 4G presents an opportunity for growth, especially among older demographics who may be more price-sensitive and less inclined to switch to 5G [7].