One of the busiest container terminals on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in Wuhan City is unexpectedly quiet -- only a few people are on the premises, while automated cranes and unmanned trucks work smoothly and efficiently.

“Now 50 percent of the loading and transportation at our terminal is automated, which has greatly improved productivity,” said Chen Xiaomian, production and operations manager of Wuhan CSP Terminal Co., Ltd. which operates the terminal in Wuhan, the administrative center of Hubei Province /Central China/.

“We only need 12 employees to remotely manage the work, which previously required 39 employees at a traditional terminal,” he added. By utilizing “5G plus industrial internet” technology, employees can operate the cranes with a single remote control while watching the process on screens.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Informatization of the People's Republic of China, “5G + Industrial Internet” is a new infrastructure, application model and industrial ecosystem deeply integrated into the industrial sector of the economy using next-generation information and telecommunications technology in the form of 5G.

By integrating people, machines, things and systems through 5G, “5G + Industrial Internet” aims to build entirely new production and service systems covering the entire production and value-added chains, to provide new pathways for industrial development, to digitalize, network and intelligent development of industrial sectors, and to help enterprises reduce costs, improve quality, enhance efficiency and ensure green and safe development.

As part of its technology-driven growth strategy, China has committed to developing “5G plus industrial internet” in recent years, seeking to accelerate the intelligent upgrading of its traditional industries.

According to the aforementioned ministry, steel manufacturing, equipment manufacturing, mining and port logistics are industries that have made extensive use of “5G plus industrial internet”, with technologies such as intelligent logistics, automated visual inspection, remote control and automated patrolling finding increasing application.

A notable example is Hegang, a rust belt city in Heilongjiang province in northeast China, where the local graphite mining industry is experiencing a renaissance.

Unlike the previous model characterized by extensive exploitation, ongoing mining operations are carefully planned using remote monitoring and data analysis. These technologies can significantly improve operational efficiency and prevent wasteful use of resources, helping the city transform itself into one of China's largest graphite centers.

The city's technology-fueled renaissance reflects a broader trend across China, with more than 15,000 “5G plus industrial internet” projects underway, covering all 41 major industrial categories in the country.

Zhou Ji, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said that “5G plus industrial internet” is the main driving force behind the ongoing development of smart manufacturing in China, which includes not only technological advances but also the reshaping of industrial models.

He expects that by 2035, digital, networked and smart manufacturing technologies will be widely adopted by industrial companies across the country, making China a leader in global smart manufacturing.

To further accelerate this transformation, the ministry announced the 5G plus Industrial Internet pilot program in 10 cities at the recently concluded All-China Conference on 5G plus Industrial Internet 2024. The program aims to promote large-scale application, with cities such as Nanjing, Wuhan, Qingdao and seven other cities participating.

According to the ministry, these cities will focus on developing 5G-based industrial clusters and innovation ecosystems with pace-setting effects at both regional and national levels.

During the conference, Chen Ronghui, deputy head of the State Data Administration of the People's Republic of China, said that the administration will continue to transform traditional industries with digital technology. Moreover, it will create more digital solution providers to offer optimized, low-cost products and services.

Looking ahead, Shang Guangyun, chief technology officer and deputy general manager of Inspur Yunzhou Industrial Internet Platform, said there should be more solutions customized to companies' needs. He also suggested that the prices of all types of 5G-based equipment should be lowered.

He added that with the emergence of more smart factories in China, “5G plus industrial internet” technology will provide a wider range of application scenarios such as intelligent sensing, real-time analysis and precise control, thereby further improving production efficiency.