In Zhejiang province, China Mobile’s Zhejiang Branch is advancing the shift from traditional manufacturing to intelligent production through the integration of 5G networks and artificial intelligence (AI). Central to this transformation is the China Mobile Yangtze River Delta (Jinhua) Data Center, one of East China’s largest facilities. Covering nearly 19 hectares and built to national A-level standards, the data center has received a diamond five-star internet data center certification, reflecting its cutting-edge capabilities. With over 3 billion yuan ($441.6 million) invested, the center currently operates 13,000 server racks and supports an IT capacity of 866 megawatts. It is also recognized as a 2025 national-level green computing site, boasting an advanced power usage effectiveness of 1.24, which saves 34 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually and reduces carbon emissions by approximately 18,000 metric tons.

A prominent example of this technological deployment is Ronma Solar Energy Group’s 5G-enabled smart factory in Jinhua. A state-level high-tech enterprise specializing in monocrystalline silicon solar cells and photovoltaic modules, Ronma uses 5G networks to connect over 800 devices, including 223 automated guided vehicles (AGVs), across its 580-meter-long and 100-meter-wide facility. The factory employs AI-driven visual navigation instead of traditional magnetic strips or QR codes for AGV movement and operates a fully automated production process. According to Xiong Zhoushi, general manager of China Mobile Jinhua Branch, the factory has maintained uninterrupted network operation since its launch. The plant’s daily production capacity for battery cells is approximately 3.78 million, achieving an actual throughput near 3.7 million units—a utilization rate of 97 percent, reportedly the highest in China’s photovoltaic sector.

Ronma integrates AI extensively, including the use of a digital twin platform to create a precise virtual replica of the production line. This system supports automated inspections through AI-driven digital human agents and provides remote access for overseas clients to monitor order progress, reportedly reducing client reception costs by 14 percent. He Liang, dean of the Ronma Solar Research Institute, explained that AI-based visual inspections have replaced manual checks, improving defect detection accuracy to over 90 percent and significantly lowering labor requirements. Additionally, AI models optimize parameters during high-temperature processes, reducing energy consumption by 9 percent, while predictive maintenance algorithms identify equipment issues before they cause downtime.

Beyond solar energy, China Mobile’s digital initiatives are catalyzing upgrades in other sectors. Zhejiang Truelove Blanket Technology Co has developed the country’s first cloud-based 5G textile intelligent inspection factory. Leveraging 5G’s low latency, the system continuously monitors 8,000 yarns, detecting and responding instantly to yarn breaks or skips, which has cut defect lengths by 90 percent and saved the company nearly 3 million yuan annually in labor costs. Similarly, Zhejiang SAFUN Industrial Co uses AI to streamline its research and development, reducing its cycle from two months to five days and projecting a 30 percent increase in overseas orders.

In pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang Shouxianqu Pharmaceutical Co operates China’s first “5G PON + Wi-Fi 7” 10-gigabit pharmaceutical park and is advancing AI applications with its “AI Ancient Formula” project, digitizing traditional medical texts to generate automatic prescriptions. The company is expanding its computing infrastructure and plans to deploy an AI question-and-answer agent for operational data inquiries. The cultural sector also benefits from this digital momentum; Hengdian World Studios has assembled a comprehensive database of nearly 4 billion data points to accelerate AI-driven content production, enabling a 120-minute AI-generated short drama to be completed in about two weeks.

China Mobile is actively working to extend these innovations across Zhejiang’s manufacturing landscape. Ni Jun, deputy manager of the government and enterprise department at China Mobile Jinhua Branch, outlined a strategy targeting three key local industries: power tools, textiles, and magnetic materials. The approach involves creating benchmark enterprises as models to develop standardized digital solutions. Utilizing a grid-based operational network that covers all towns and streets in Jinhua, China Mobile’s grid managers engage directly with factories to assess digital maturity and tailor AI applications to their specific needs, aiming to promote cost reduction and intelligent transformation industry-wide.