By Martin Mou

China Mobile Ltd. will co-build and share a 5G network with China Broadcasting Network Corp. Ltd., following moves by rivals to jointly develop the next-generation telecommunications network.

The company's parent company, China Mobile Communications Group, signed a pact with China Broadcasting Network to jointly invest in the construction of a 700MHz 5G wireless network, China Mobile said Wednesday.

The two companies will jointly own and have the right to use the assets of the network, the state-owned telecom said.

China launched commercial 5G services last year and is currently rolling out these services to more regions, mainly through China Mobile and rivals China Unicom and China Telecom.

China Unicom and China Telecom agreed to co-build and share their 5G networks last year, a move aimed at lowering capital expenditure.

In addition to the three telecoms, the Chinese government has also granted a 5G commercial license to China Broadcasting Network, which manages the national radio and television networks in China. 



  Write to Martin Mou at martin.mou@wsj.com