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Current Affairs

China unveils industrial internet road map, with AI, 5G at core of manufacturing upgrade

China has unveiled a road map to accelerate the development of its industrial internet, setting targets for the expansion of industry-oriented 5G networks and data…

By Samantha Johnson / July 1, 2026
China has unveiled a road map to accelerate the development of its industrial internet, setting targets for the expansion of industry-oriented 5G networks and data systems as Beijing seeks to deepen the integration of frontier technologies into manufacturing and bolster the country’s industrial competitiveness.

The plan, jointly issued on Tuesday by eight Chinese government agencies led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, included targets for expanding industrial digital infrastructure and data supply, promoting the adoption of AI across factories, and developing world-leading industrial internet platforms.

It called for the buildout of 50,000 industrial 5G private networks by 2030 and the development of a well-established industrial data mechanism and system, according to a notice published on the ministry’s WeChat social media account.

Improving technology, standards and product supply in the industrial internet sector was expected to see its value added exceed 2.5 trillion yuan (US$368 billion) in five years, according to the plan, as Beijing positions the sector as a pillar for “new quality productive forces” driven by advanced technologies.

Other initiatives include strengthening foundational telecommunications capabilities, stepping up technological innovation, taking the initiative to lead and set international standards, establishing a sound security protection mechanism, and promoting deeper integration of artificial intelligence and the industrial internet.

Unlike previous industrial internet policies that focused primarily on connectivity, the latest plan also highlighted the role that “integrated applications” would play in supporting the industrial internet and its use in real-world settings.

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