A visitor experiences 5G-based internet of vehicles techology at a communications show in Shanghai in June. [Photo by Long Wei/For China Daily]

"The progress highlights the rising influence of Chinese companies in the global telecommunications arena," said Xiang Ligang, CEO of telecoms industry website Cctime.

"It is a recognition of both their technological prowess and their brand influence." Currently, 5G standards are still under development by 3GPP, or the 3rd Generation Partnership Project, which promotes global wireless communications standards.

But the body announced it will accelerate the process and lock down the first version of global 5G standards around June in 2018－signaling that little change would be expected to current technical specifications and vendors can get to work on standardized 5G equipment, experts said.

To pounce on the opportunities, China is rushing to finish its own series of 5G trials. The country's telecoms authority said in November that the country has started the third phase of 5G technical tests, as it aims to get pre-commercial 5G products ready as soon as possible.

Wen Ku, director of the telecoms development department at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said developments will be ramped up.

Wen said more efforts will be made to accelerate tests on network planning, systems, chips and other products in the industrial chain, which will help to lay down a sound foundation for the fast development of a 5G network in China.

The country has already established the world's largest 5G test field in Huairou district, Beijing, where about 30 telecom base stations were built and China Mobile, Huawei, ZTE Corp and a string of foreign tech companies have finished China's second phase of 5G research and development tests.