China to give whole nation 4G coverage by 2018

China aims to cover all its urban and rural areas with 4G network by 2018, said an action plan published by the ministry of industry and information technology on Monday.

The country also plans to install fibre optics in more than 80% of its villages, the three-year plan, Internet Plus, said.

With regard to the upgrading of network infrastructure, the ministry set the target of "basically completing a broadband-based, integrated, ubiquitous and secure next-generation national information infrastructure", Xinhua news agency reported.

To achieve this, China will channel more energy into the promotion of 4G, and boost research and development of 5G, according to the action plan.

The action plan will integrate mobile Internet, cloud computing, big data and the Internet of Things with modern manufacturing to encourage the healthy development of e-commerce, industrial networks, and Internet banking, and to help Internet companies increase their international presence.