Leading telecommunications companies in Japan, according to network sources, have begun testing high-speed mobile networks of the fifth generation (5G).

NTT DoCoMo, KDDI and SoftBank Group intend to introduce new technology. To deploy the 5G-infrastructure, these giants are jointly willing to spend up to 5 trillion yen, or about 45.7 billion US dollars.

The first 5G commercial zones are expected to be deployed in Tokyo and some other regions of the country by 2020. And in three years, the fifth-generation networks must earn nationally.

Japan sees huge potential in 5G networks. Among the promising areas of application of the technology are named self-controlled cars, telemedicine, virtual and augmented reality systems, industrial Internet of things, etc..