China Mobile Shanghai Partners with Huawei to Revolutionize 5G-A Network Monetization During Live Football Match
Title: China Mobile Shanghai Partners with Huawei to Revolutionize 5G-A Network Monetization During Live Football Match
Imagine the electric atmosphere of 80,000 fans cheering at Shanghai Stadium on September 21, 2025, during a thrilling football clash between Shanghai Shenhua and Chengdu Rongcheng. But there’s more than just the game to talk about; it’s also about how major telecom players are rethinking their strategies to convert technological prowess into actual revenue.
Huawei, the tech giant, ushered journalists into a unique experience of vibrant Chinese football culture while showcasing their state-of-the-art infrastructure. Amidst fans clad in blue and white, capturing the moments on their phones, China Mobile Shanghai was putting its freshly deployed 5G-A network monetization strategy to the ultimate test, all thanks to Huawei’s GainLeap solution and its innovative wireless setup.
The task? Facilitate 80,000 users streaming, uploading, and enjoying transactions without a hiccup. Now, that’s no small order! It required far more than just adding a bit more bandwidth to the mix.
China Mobile Shanghai proudly became the first carrier to roll out a specialized 5G-A experience package, marking a game-changer in how telecom operators tackle revenue growth in markets that seem saturated. They introduced the “5G-A Exclusive Package for Shenhua Football Fans,” a brilliant way to turn the advanced capabilities of 5G-Advanced networks into something users find worthwhile enough to pay for.
The engine behind this groundbreaking strategy? A robust tech portfolio from Huawei, featuring everything from the GainLeap solution identifying premium users to AI-powered smart boards optimizing network performance. It’s all tied together beautifully.
The Business Model Innovation
In an impressive collaboration with the Shanghai Shenhua Football Club, around 200,000 fans now enjoy a package that fuses network performance guarantees with meaningful perks. Just picture this: subscribers get priority access to live matches via the Migu streaming service, no limit on video ringback tone downloads, and even exclusive merchandise from their favorite football club.
This innovative take on 5G-A network monetization shines a spotlight on a critical pain point in the telecom world—how to foster quality growth when user acquisition has hit a ceiling. Instead of battling for clients based on price or basic services, this package aims to create value through excellent, tailored experiences.
The Technical Infrastructure Behind the Experience
The stakes are high and the tech must be sharper. For Shanghai Stadium, China Mobile Shanghai developed a flexible, robust network suited for massive concurrent demands. On match days, subscribers tapping into the 5G-A package experienced blazing download speeds of up to 600 Mbps—a game-changer during crucial moments of the match.
At the core of this technical prowess is Huawei’s GainLeap solution, enabling operators to pinpoint and allocate a high-speed channel for 5G-A subscribers. The differentiation is absolutely essential to their network monetization model, creating visible performance gaps between standard users and those on the premium tier.
Behind the walls, Huawei’s AI-driven smart boards play a pivotal role, rapidly assessing network service types, user requirements, device specs, and resource statuses all in real-time. This precise maneuvering cuts down the latency of QR code scanning by nearly half and enhances the streaming experience substantially—who wouldn’t want that?
Infrastructure Deployment Scale
Setting up for success, the groundwork laid by China Mobile Shanghai and Huawei includes substantial network upgrades, such as installing new 2.6 GHz and 4.9 GHz pRRUs in the stadium's lower stands, massively boosting capacity. An army of over 40 engineers is on site during matches to ensure everything stays running smoothly.
The Practical User Experience
Fans noticed the tangible benefits right away. The elevated service allowed for fast mobile payments, easy sharing of video highlights, and timely interactions with friends—even amidst the buzz of thousands of cheering fans. Instant gratification? Absolutely! But will this strategy bring in the expected returns? Only time will tell.
Industry Implications
This initiative certainly sparks a re-evaluation of 5G-A network monetization in the industry. With traditional models struggling against the steep costs associated with innovative infrastructure, creating tailored experiences tied to specific interest groups—like football fans—could offer a way for carriers to differentiate their offerings.
As telecom companies worldwide strive to monetize their continually expensive upgrades, the experimental packages from China Mobile Shanghai present a fresh angle on how to offer more than just basic connectivity. Perhaps they’re paving the way toward a future that blends community with cutting-edge technology.
(Image source: Smart Shanghai)
