5G has brought streaming to smartphones

In 2020, in the midst of the municipal election campaign, 5G entered the public debate. Green mayor Éric Piolle launched a striking statement on RTL: "5G is so we can watch porn movies even when you're in your elevator in HD." A provocation intended to denounce the energy consumption of digital technology and question the notion of progress. Five years later, what was a witty remark has become reality: 5G makes it possible to seamlessly watch Duanju series even in the most unlikely places.

The installation of 5G had sparked heated controversy in France. The debate focused on the environmental impact, persistent territorial inequalities, and technological sovereignty issues linked to dependence on foreign suppliers.

China at the forefront of deployment

5G testing in France began in 2018, ahead of a commercial launch in 2020. The issue quickly took on a geopolitical dimension: China sought to impose Huawei and ZTE, while France limited their access to the market. ANSSI restricted the use of Huawei equipment, forcing Bouygues Telecom and SFR to replace thousands of antennas, while Orange and Free favored Nokia and Ericsson. Huawei also announced plans for an equipment factory in Alsace, an investment of €200 million, expected to open around 2025, but without compensating for the loss of ground. 5G then became a battleground where sovereignty counted as much as innovation.

China plays a pivotal role in global 5G, with approximately 4.5 million base stations deployed by the end of 2025. Its operators have built a dense domestic network, while Huawei and ZTE are equipping many countries, and brands like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo are rolling out affordable 5G smartphones. Driven by sustained investment and turnkey deployments, this presence extends from infrastructure to devices and is accelerating mobile adoption worldwide.

The Evolution of Streaming: From Computers to Phones

Streaming hasn't always been instantaneous. In its early days, it meant endless loading times on computers, hampered by still-slow connections. The arrival of broadband enabled the rise of YouTube and then Netflix, giving streaming its credentials. With the widespread adoption of smartphones, video became mobile, but for a long time it was limited by 3G and then 4G, which were too narrow for mass consumption in high definition.

This is where 5G has opened a new chapter: increased speed, reduced latency, and enhanced stability, even in places previously inhospitable to the signal. Streaming first attacked cinema and television, then invaded our phones, and now 5G offers it optimal conditions for a lasting establishment. Duanju series, designed for mobile, thus find their natural home in this new ecosystem.

What some in 2020 considered superfluous has become a technological and cultural reality. 5G has not only transformed digital usage; it has enabled the phone to become a central screen for entertainment. Duanju, short, vertical formats, have benefited from this evolution.

Article written by Guillaume Sanjorge

#GuillaumeSanjorge

Sources

• RTL, July 5, 2020

• Le Monde, August 17, 2020

• Reuters, July 22, 2020

• RCR Wireless, June 27, 2025

• China Mobile – 2024 Annual Results (PDF), March 20, 2025