Thanks to full coverage by the 5G network in the Xiaoyangkou resort, both fishermen and merchants there have easy access to a new way of selling their seafood via livestreaming. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

The roll-out of the 5G network in the Xiaoyangkou resort in Rudong county – administered by Nantong city in East China's Jiangsu province – was completed on April 4, in a development that is expected to spur rural revitalization in the region.

The Nantong branch of China Mobile has now installed 20 5G base stations in the Xiaoyangkou scenic area, basically realizing full coverage of the 5G network.

Rudong's coastline is over 102 kilometers long, accounting for about one-ninth of Jiangsu province's coast. The coastal areas previously suffered from poor coverage by communications equipment due to its special geographical location and climatic environment, leading to poor cell phone reception.

"With the 5G network coverage here, we have a totally different internet speed now," said a delighted fisherman in Rudong's Yangkou fishing port.

"We can use 5G cell phones to sell our seafood online, via livestreaming at sea," he added.

Compared with traditional sales models, the new method is faster and more convenient. It is often the case that all the seafood has been ordered when the ships are still at sea, greatly expanding marketing channels.

Not only the fishermen, but also merchants in the Xiaoyangkou resort are keen on the new marketing mode.

"In order to promote economic development in the coastal areas and help the people engaged in fishing to have a better life, the Nantong branch of China Mobile installed more than 40 5G base stations in the coastal areas of Rudong," said a branch official.

Nantong branch installed the first coastal 5G base station in Jiangsu province as early as 2019. Now the 5G network construction of Xiaoyangkou resort has been completed, it is expected that the new technology will inject vitality into rural revitalization in the coastal areas of Rudong and into the high-quality development of Nantong.