China has launched a comprehensive roadmap aimed at accelerating the development of its industrial internet by 2030, with a focus on expanding 5G networks, enhancing data systems, and integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into manufacturing processes. The plan, jointly issued by eight central government bodies and led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, sets ambitious targets to strengthen the country’s industrial digital infrastructure and competitiveness.
According to a notice published on the ministry’s official WeChat account, China aims to establish 50,000 industrial 5G private networks by the end of the decade. Alongside this, the government seeks to develop a robust industrial data framework designed to support data supply, sharing, and security. These efforts are part of a broader initiative to deepen the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as AI, industrial internet platforms, and 5G telecommunications within key sectors of the national economy.
The roadmap emphasizes the importance of “integrated applications,” which combine AI and 5G with the industrial internet to support practical, real-world manufacturing scenarios. This approach marks a shift from previous policies that primarily focused on connectivity infrastructures toward more comprehensive, application-driven solutions. The objective is to create a world-leading industrial internet infrastructure that fosters a "new type of industrialisation" by 2035.
Beyond infrastructure expansion, the plan underscores the need to improve technology standards, product supplies, and security measures within the industrial internet sector. It also calls for increased technological innovation and proactive participation in setting international standards. The government estimates that the value added by the industrial internet sector could surpass 2.5 trillion yuan (approximately HK$2.88 trillion) in the next five years, positioning it as a core component of China's “new quality productive forces.”
The roadmap aligns with a longer-term strategy outlined by China’s State Council nine years ago, which set phased development goals for the industrial internet through 2025, 2035, and 2050. Authorities reported that the country has already met or exceeded the 2025 targets, including the construction of industrial internet infrastructure across various industries.
With this updated roadmap, China is aiming to solidify its position as a global leader in industrial internet technologies while fostering innovation-driven growth across its manufacturing sectors.