Revolutionizing Telecom Revenue: How China Mobile Shanghai’s 5G-A Strategy Transforms Fan Experience

On September 21, 2025, the atmosphere at Shanghai Stadium was electric, with 80,000 fans roaring in unison during a thrilling football match between Shanghai Shenhua and Chengdu Rongcheng. However, this event was more than just a showcase of athletic prowess; it served as a pivotal moment for telecom carriers, particularly China Mobile Shanghai, as they demonstrated an innovative approach to converting advanced network capabilities into revenue streams.

A Groundbreaking Collaboration

Huawei facilitated this groundbreaking event, inviting international media to experience the unique blend of Chinese football culture and cutting-edge technology. As fans donned blue and white, capturing unforgettable moments on their smartphones amidst the bustling crowd, the newly deployed 5G-A network monetization strategy was put to the test. Powered by Huawei’s GainLeap solution and intelligent wireless infrastructure, it was a live demonstration of innovation in action.

Meeting the Challenge of Scale

From the media section, the technical challenge was palpable: ensuring that 80,000 users could simultaneously stream, upload, and transact without suffering network degradation. This required more than just additional bandwidth; it necessitated a sophisticated, robust network architecture capable of handling massive concurrent demand.

Innovative 5G-A Experience Packages

China Mobile Shanghai emerged as the first carrier in China to introduce a differentiated 5G-A experience package, marking a significant shift in how telecom operators can drive revenue growth in increasingly saturated markets. The “5G-A Exclusive Package for Shenhua Football Fans” aims to transform the elastic capabilities of 5G-Advanced networks into tangible value that subscribers are willing to pay for.

Key Features of the Exclusive Package

This innovative package offers approximately 200,000 football fans an annual membership that combines network performance guarantees with fan-specific benefits. Subscribers enjoy:

• Network acceleration on 5G-A
• Access to all matches via the Migu streaming service
• Unlimited video ringback tone downloads
• Exclusive Shanghai Shenhua Football Club merchandise

This approach addresses a critical pain point within the telecommunications sector: fostering quality growth in a market where user acquisition has plateaued. Rather than competing solely on price or basic connectivity, this package emphasizes value creation through enhanced experiences tailored to specific use cases.

Technical Infrastructure: The Backbone of Experience

To meet the high demand during matches, China Mobile Shanghai has implemented a scalable network infrastructure at Shanghai Stadium. During the September 21 match, 5G-A package subscribers could achieve download speeds of up to 600 Mbps, even with 80,000 users accessing the network simultaneously. This technical foundation is heavily reliant on Huawei’s GainLeap solution, which identifies premium subscribers and allocates them to a high-speed 3CC (three-component carrier) channel.

The Role of AI in Network Optimization

Behind the scenes, Huawei’s AI-powered intelligent wireless boards play a crucial role. These boards integrate on-board communication capabilities with artificial intelligence, allowing the network to make millisecond-level decisions regarding service types, user experience goals, device characteristics, and resource allocations.

According to data from China Mobile Shanghai, these advancements have resulted in significant performance improvements, including:

• 47% reduction in QR code scanning latency
• 25% decrease in WeChat uploading times
• 27% increase in live streaming speeds
• 11% improvement in high-definition video ratios

Infrastructure Deployment Scale and Management

To support the high concurrent demand during events, China Mobile Shanghai and Huawei executed comprehensive network upgrades at the stadium. Key enhancements included:

• 32 new 2.6 GHz and 4.9 GHz passive remote radio units (pRRUs) in the lower stands, more than doubling overall network capacity.
• Installation of 4.9 GHz EM devices at seven escalator entrances to eliminate coverage dead spots.

On match days, more than 40 engineers are stationed onsite for real-time network monitoring and dynamic optimization. Additionally, China Mobile Shanghai has achieved continuous 5G-A coverage within Shanghai’s Outer Ring Road, extending to five new towns and 21 metro lines across the city.

Elevating the Fan Experience

For fans attending the match, the differentiated service was evident. The high bandwidth and business-level assurance capabilities enabled swift mobile payments for drinks, snacks, and souvenirs, allowing users to share video highlights in real-time without lag—even during peak moments when thousands of fans were uploading data simultaneously.

The ability to see likes and comments from friends instantly while still in the stadium represents the enhanced experience China Mobile Shanghai is banking on, hoping that users will find enough value to justify a premium price. While the commercial success of this strategy remains to be seen, the technical execution at the match showcased the infrastructure’s capabilities.

Implications for the Telecommunications Industry

This initiative raises critical questions about the future of 5G-A network monetization strategies within the telecommunications sector. Traditional models have struggled to validate the substantial infrastructure investments required for 5G and 5G-Advanced networks. By creating tiered experiences tailored to specific user communities like football fans, carriers may have discovered a way to differentiate services beyond basic speed tiers.

This approach also serves as a test case for how deeply integrated AI capabilities in network infrastructure can enable new business models. The intelligent wireless boards’ ability to make real-time decisions about resource allocation makes performance differentiation technically feasible at scale.

China Mobile Shanghai’s ambition to serve 200,000 Shenhua fans provides a measurable benchmark for assessing the commercial viability of this innovative strategy. As telecom companies worldwide grapple with how to monetize increasingly expensive network upgrades, China Mobile Shanghai’s experiment with community-specific, experience-based packages may offer valuable insights for the industry’s evolution beyond traditional connectivity provision.

Conclusion

The September 21 match at Shanghai Stadium was not just another sporting event; it was a glimpse into the future of telecommunications and fan engagement. China Mobile Shanghai’s innovative use of 5G-A technology illustrates how telecom carriers can redefine revenue generation through enhanced user experiences. As the industry evolves, staying attuned to consumer needs and technological advancements will be crucial for sustained growth and profitability.

Engage with Us: Questions and Answers

1. What is the 5G-A Exclusive Package for Shenhua Football Fans?

The package offers enhanced network performance, access to matches, unlimited video downloads, and exclusive merchandise to approximately 200,000 fans.

2. How does Huawei’s GainLeap solution contribute to network monetization?

GainLeap identifies premium subscribers and allocates them to high-speed channels, enabling differentiated service levels for users.

3. What are some key performance improvements observed with the new network?

Key improvements include reduced QR code scanning latency by 47% and increased live streaming speeds by 27%.

4. How does China Mobile Shanghai ensure network reliability during high-demand events?

The company has upgraded infrastructure, employed AI for network management, and stationed engineers onsite for real-time monitoring.

5. What implications does this initiative have for the broader telecommunications industry?

This initiative suggests that community-specific, experience-based strategies could be a viable path for telecom companies to differentiate their services and monetize infrastructure investments effectively.