What a Chinese Mobile Megamerger Would Mean for the 5G Race

  • South Korea aims to be the first with commercial 5G roll out
  • Japanese carriers are gearing up, Russia targets 2020 launch

Photographer: Geber86/E+ via Getty Images

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China is betting that bulking up its phone companies will help the country keep its edge in the race for 5G.

A merger of two of China’s three carriers under consideration -- China United Network Communications Group Co. and China Telecommunications Corp. -- could make it easier to spend on gear for the next generation of mobile technology, speeding its development. Shares of China Tower Corp. dropped for a second day Wednesday, as investors expect it’ll get cut out of infrastructure opportunities with a tie-up.