(Yicai Global) April 1 --  A total of around CNY50 billion (USD7.04 billion) will be invested in 5G construction this year in south China's economic powerhouse Guangdong province, local authorities said yesterday.

The total investment of the top three telecom operators in the province -- Guangdong Telecom, Guangdong Mobile and Guangdong Unicom, will exceed 40 billion yuan, said Li Min with the Guangdong Communications Administration at a press conference.

Guangdong plans to build 60,000 5G base stations in 2020, bringing the total in the province to 100,000 and covering more than 90 percent of the population.

At present, the province is speeding up the resumption of work and production in the communication industry amid the COVID-19 epidemic to support 5G construction, said local authorities.

Editor: Xia Ruirui