China's digital infrastructure has reached new heights during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, with officials announcing world-leading advancements in connectivity and innovation. At a State Council press conference on Thursday, National Data Administration head Liu Liehong revealed that 4.55 million 5G base stations now blanket the country – equivalent to one tower every 500 meters in urban centers – while 226 million users enjoy gigabit-speed broadband.
Digital Foundations Fuel Economic Transformation
The infrastructure boom has propelled China to second place globally in total computing power, creating ripple effects across industries. Liu emphasized that strategic investments have strengthened the ICT supply chain, with the '5G+ industrial internet' initiative alone generating $28 billion in new economic value last year.
From Farmlands to Factories
Rural areas have emerged as unexpected beneficiaries, where 5G-enabled e-commerce platforms helped farmers increase agricultural sales by 34% year-on-year. Meanwhile, smart factories leveraging AI-powered quality control systems report 22% higher production efficiency.
Homegrown Tech Ecosystem Thrives
Breakthroughs in core technologies mark a turning point:
HarmonyOS ecosystem devices surpass 1.19 billion units
China holds 60% of global AI patents
Domestic semiconductor production capacity grows 18% annually
Data Economy Enters Golden Age
The National Data Development Research Institute reports the sector's market size hit 5.86 trillion yuan ($808 billion) in 2024, more than doubling from 2020. Over 400,000 data-focused enterprises now drive innovations in smart city management and precision healthcare.
"These achievements demonstrate our capacity to lead in the digital era," Liu stated, noting that infrastructure upgrades will remain central to China's high-quality development strategy through 2030.
