Photo: IC

The first batch of 5G-enabled smartphones have obtained the China Compulsory Certification (3C), one of the final stages for the official launch of 5G, according to a report by nbd.com on Tuesday. 

According to the report, the first phones to get 3C certifications include four models from Huawei, one from OnePlus, one from ZTE and one from Vivo. OPPO told the Global Times that it has received the certificate. 

These certificates mean 5G smartphones are in the pipelines, Xiang Ligang, director-general of the Beijing-based Information Consumption Alliance, told the Global Times.

"3C is required for most electronic products to enter the market to ensure product safety and quality," Xiang said. "With 3C certificates, 5G phones can be expected in the market very soon."

Huawei is the first vendor to secure the certificate on June 11, and Vivo's 3C certificate was issued on Monday, nbd.com reported.

With the certificates in hand, smartphone makers are expected to launch their first 5G phones in the third quarter of 2019, Ma Jihua, a telecom analyst with Beijing Daojing Consultant Co. Ma said the move had come earlier than he expected, indicating concerted efforts by all related parties to fast track the deployment of 5G. 

Ma noted that the launch of the phones will be synchronized with the unveiling of the 5G network, as devices and networks go hand in hand.

Huawei confirmed that the Mate20 X 5G, its first smartphone to support 5G, will be launched on July 26, and Vivo has confirmed to the Global Times that it plans to launch 5G phones, although the exact dates were not specified. 

Xiaomi, which wasn't among the first group of companies to receive a 3C certificate, said that it will apply for the 3C certificate test as early as next week, nbd.com reported.

Although the first batch of 5G smartphones can be expected soon, most of them will cost more than 8,000 yuan ($1,163) until March next year, Fu Liang, a Beijing-based independent industry analyst, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

Fu said that because of the high prices, companies are unlikely to produce a large quantity of 5G phones this year. 

"Around a few million phones from various brands will probably be on the market this year," Fu noted. "The first batch will be used to test water and collect market responses, but 5G smartphones will become more mainstream next year."

Although South Korea is the world's first country to use 5G, China will soon surpass it in terms of the scale of the 5G market, said Ma.

Experts said that with the launch of 5G smartphones, more 5G-related applications and devices are on the way, and they will create a large market with great growth potential. 
Newspaper headline: First 5G phones get 3C certificates