5G-connected factories gain steam in Ningbo

Ningbo in East China's Zhejiang province is making remarkable strides in integrating digital technologies into industrial production.

Telecom carrier China Mobile has already built over 130 5G-enabled factories in Ningbo, with plans to increase the number to over 1,000 by 2025.

The adoption of new-generation information technologies such as 5G, industrial internet, big data, and cloud computing has provided more opportunities for companies to pursue automation and intelligent production.

One such company is Zhejiang Hotel Star Technology Co Ltd, which specializes in producing medium and high-grade corrugated boxes.

By leveraging technologies like 5G and industrial internet, the company has achieved fully-automated production, reducing the length of product development cycles by 43 percent and increasing production efficiency by 35 percent, says Lu Yanbo, the company's deputy general manager.

One of the core components of smart factories is automatic guided vehicles (AGVs), which operate seamlessly thanks to the high speed and low latency of 5G networks.

According to Feng Fudong, deputy general manager of the Fenghua branch of China Mobile, 5G and industrial internet applications enable enterprises to reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and improve product quality.

In 2022, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced a national guideline regarding the construction of fully 5G-connected factories in Ningbo.