Four elements encouraged Fujian’s confidence in developing NB IoT.
First, the local government’s acumen and strong execution was demonstrated clearly in its insisting on an early start to the industry. Second, an expanding IoT industrial cluster set a solid foundation for progress in narrowband technology. Third, an NB IoT ecosystem took shape. Fourth, Taiwan’s talent pool and technological advances can be tapped by Fujian offering favorable start-up policies.
Fujian has been paying attention to the development of IoT industry for several years. In 2010, it issued a two-year action plan to get a head start in the market.
Last October, it issued a 13th Five-Year Plan for the information and communications industry to push for the construction of NB IoT networks, the commercial use of NB IoT technology and the establishment of several major projects.
Only six months later, Fujian had made significant progress in these envisioned areas, according to Chen Jisheng, director of Fujian Strait Development of IoT Applications Center.
Chen is also the vice-president of Newland S&T Group. Established by 18 intellectuals in Fuzhou in 1994, the hi-tech company specializes in IoT, with leading technologies, competitive products and industrial applications.
The Fujian government has been generous in offering financial support to the IoT industry. It set up an IoT venture capital fund and founded the Fujian Internet of Things Scientific Research Institute in Quanzhou city.
Fuzhou and Xiamen both have a strong IoT industry. Banking on technology and production advantages, the two cities not only developed a strong IoT industry, but also peripheral industries such as chip design and big data applications, according to the president of the IoT association of Xiamen, Zhao Shanren.
In the sensor sector, Fujian is represented by Fuzhou-based Fujian Wide Plus Precision Instruments Co and Newland S&T Group, and the Xiamen-based Xiamen Xindeco.
In chip design, Fuzhou-based Rockchip supplies the best TV box solutions in China and has won several China Chip IC industry awards. The company is now in collaboration with Microsoft to flex its muscles in the smart home sector and NB IoT.
On the big data side, a national healthcare big data center is being built in Fuzhou.
The narrowband era has arrived and is propelling the rollout of IoT applications into the public arena, including in utilities, public construction and public safety. In these areas technologies’ massive commercial uses can be realized and a more comprehensive industrial system can be shaped.
Rockchip is developing ultra-low-power NB IoT chips, which are expected to cut operation costs of NB IoT networks to widen use. Listed on China’s National Equities Exchange and Quotations, technology company Huichuan is pushing for the use of NB IoT in personnel management and asset tracking, while Sanxinlong is focusing on smart city construction and plans to link millions of smart manhole covers with NB IoT networks.
NB IoT technology will also be introduced in aquaculture for water quality monitoring by Fuzhou-based Yujiaao, an aquaculture technology company. Fujian has a 3,320-kilometer-long coast line and 2,700 square kilometers of mud flats. This move will help the coastal province, which is rich in aquatic resources, to advance technology-oriented aquaculture.
IoT is an emerging sector, let alone the NB IoT area, and lack of talents is one of the challenges it faces. Another advantage of Fujian is that it pools Taiwan’s talent resources by offering start-up incentives and attracts competitive enterprises to relocate to Fujian with its free trade policies.
 |
|
The IoT promotion center under construction in Fuzhou. [Photo/Xinhua] |
