Digital transformation set to boost productivity

NANCHANG - A mattress that is also a heart rate monitor, a mirror that doubles as a digital home control center and a wearable sensor capable of assessing how focused someone's mind is are all enabled using the internet of things technology.

These devices are only a sample of the mind-blowing products showcased at an international mobile IoT expo that was held in mid-July in Jiangxi province.

The expo brought together top industry experts and representatives from leading tech firms such as Huawei and ZTE, who discussed the latest developments, its applications and ways to protect data security.

Jiangxi is a national-level testing ground to develop the new generation of mobile IoT and explore its applications. Many local enterprises have launched digital transformations and carried out IoT technology pilot programs to enhance innovation and realize mass customization at a lower cost.

The expo came after China granted its first 5G licenses for commercial use to a broadcasting network and the country's top three telecom operators in June.

"With advantages of low latency, high reliability and wide bandwidth, the 5G wireless technology will help explore new possibilities of the IoT," Wu Hequan, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of the Internet Society of China, said in a keynote speech at the expo.

Areas such as the industry IoT, the internet of vehicles, virtual reality and remote medical care are likely to benefit the most from the commercial use of 5G, said Wu.

After buying a new water purifier in February, Li Zhongming, a resident of Chengdu in Sichuan province, has developed a habit of checking the water quality on his smartphone before turning on the tap. Equipped with eight sensors, the purifier can monitor water quality and send data in real time to Li's smartphone through a mobile network.

"I used to check the water quality by tasting it. Now I rely on data, which offer me greater reassurance," said Li.

The water purifier, which uses IoT technology, was developed by Jiangxi-based Wat Tech. The company has sold more than 150,000 such machines to households in over 40 Chinese cities.

China is realizing the value of the IoT and transforming society through the deployment of smart home, smart industry and smart city solutions. By delivering real-time information, IoT products are making cities smarter and increasing convenience and efficiency in people's lives.

According to the Global System for Mobile Communications Alliance, an association of global mobile network operators, China is the world's largest IoT market with some 960 million devices connected via cellular networks, accounting for 64 percent of global cellular connections.

"Backed by the government, China is now at the forefront of the development and deployment of IoT solutions based on mobile IoT technology," said Alex Sinclair, chief technology officer of GSMA.

In 2018, the revenue of IoT business in China rose around 73 percent year-on-year, according to a report from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The fast growth is due to a rise in the use of smartphones, widespread usage of the internet, cost reduction, infrastructural advantage and supply and demand drive, said the report.