Innovative Sports Technology and 5G-A Networks in Shanghai

In a bold step towards the future, Shanghai Stadium witnessed a unique event on September 21, 2025, integrating sports technology with the latest developments in communication networks. This event was not just a football match between Shanghai Shenhua and Chengdu Rongcheng, but also a platform to showcase how telecom companies can turn advanced network capabilities into tangible profits.

Advanced 5G Developments in Shanghai

At the heart of this experience, Huawei provided the international press with an opportunity to observe the implementation of its advanced 5G-A network strategy, in collaboration with China Mobile Shanghai. Many journalists were able to learn about Chinese football culture as the audience captured and shared moments despite the dense crowds, allowing the new network to test its strategy in real-time.

The experiment ensured that 80,000 users could stream, upload, and interact online without network degradation. This required more than just an increase in bandwidth. As a result, China Mobile Shanghai became the first company in China to launch a premium 5G-A experience package, indicating a shift in how telecom operators address revenue growth in saturated markets.

New Business Model

In partnership with the Shanghai Shenhua Football Club, China Mobile Shanghai introduced an annual package for an estimated 200,000 fans, combining network performance guarantees with exclusive fan benefits. This package includes accelerated network speeds on 5G-A, access to all matches via the Migu streaming service, unlimited video ringtone downloads, and Shanghai Shenhua club products.

This package aims to address a significant pain point in the telecommunications industry: how to achieve high-quality growth when user acquisition peaks. Instead of competing solely on price or basic connectivity, the package creates value through enhanced experiences in specific use cases.

Technical Infrastructure for the Experience

To achieve this unique experience, China Mobile Shanghai implemented a flexible and scalable network capable of handling massive simultaneous demand. During the match, subscribers of the 5G-A package achieved download speeds of up to 600 Mbps. The technical infrastructure required for this exploitation is based on Huawei’s GainLeap solution, which allows the network to identify 5G-A subscribers and allocate a fast channel for them.

Huawei’s AI-powered smart wireless panels are a key component of this infrastructure. They integrate communication capabilities with artificial intelligence to identify service types, user experience goals, device characteristics, and resource status within milliseconds.

Conclusion

China Mobile Shanghai’s experience with community-based trial packages presents an intriguing model for the telecommunications industry. By offering premium experiences linked to specific user communities, companies can create added value beyond merely offering speed. Ultimately, this experience may provide insights into how the industry evolves beyond traditional connectivity offerings.