Digital economy transformation, experience digital life in China

Event report

The session was opened by a short statement from Mr Houlin Zhao (Secretary General, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)). He stated that information and communications technologies (ICTs) have developed everywhere, noting that the Chinese industry is one of the best examples in using ICTs.

Mr Xinzhe Wang (Director of Network Technology Research Department, China Unicom Network Technology Research Institute) explained that the digital economy attracts a lot of attention in China and that they are promoting ICT infrastructure, Internet access, and investments in accelerating network speed. He mentioned that there is a national consensus on digital transformation and that it improves the Chinese economy. He also spoke about cloud computing and data.

The session moderator, Mr Xingang Yu (VP of Wireless Network Marketing & Solution Sales, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd) explained the ‘Opening new era of 5G commercialisation in 2019’. He said that 5G has the capacity to create solid business foundation and reduced cost per gigabyte. Yu explained the ‘Global carriers’ strategy around 5G’ and talked about its role in 5G smart monitoring, the 5G connected vehicle, and the virtual reality in medicine. Furthermore, he mentioned the ‘China Joint 5G Use Cases Innovation Pilot’, i.e., the 5G automatic bus in Shenzhen city, the Internet of Vehicles in Chongqing city, intelligent manufacturing in Jiangsu city, etc.

In addition, he talked about the ‘China operator Fujian launching 5G Based VR service’. He further mentioned ‘Fiber-like experience wireless broadband by 5G in China and global’. He also noted the ‘New Media Style in China Enabled by 5G’: in 5CPE with a camera, and the 5G network in the football stadium. In conclusion, he mentioned that the Chinese government is strongly supporting the Internet of things (IoT) business and eco-cities.

Mr Guangquan Wang (Director of Network Technology Research Department, China Unicom Network Technology Research Institute) started by explaining ‘5G for Better Life’ and ‘5G Innovation in China Unicom’. He mentioned the role of the excellent development of applications and talked about ‘Smart Operation’, ‘Open Ecology’, and key strategic partners like Baidu and the Alibaba Group.

Wang said that they have ‘Open Labs Research’ and ‘Trial Commercial Networks Deployed 5 Leading Industry Development’ promoting ecological cooperation. Furthermore, he highlighted the 5G New Media Products regarding the editing cloud, education cloud, security cloud, and office cloud. Moreover, he noted 5G VR Live Broadcasting at the Spring Festival Gala. He also added the ‘5G Assists Automatic Driving in Regional cloud and Edge cloud’. He underlined the ‘World first trial of 5G supporting multi-centre remote collaborative surgery’.

He further talked about ‘5G Enables Smart Education’ and said that it is the holographic interactive education demonstration. In conclusion, he said that we have to be connected to the world and participate in the massive deployment of 5G.

Mr Tao Lou (Manager, Division of Quality Management, Information Security Centre, China Mobile) explained how to use artificial intelligence (AI) technology to prevent spam and improve digital life. He noted the ‘Spam undermines user interests’. He mentioned the ‘AI-based spam prevention platform’ that detects abnormal behaviours, and ‘Smart identification and processing’. He said that one billion users are protected from spam and seven billion spam messages are blocked on average every year. He noted that their system was awarded the ‘Best Big Data Application’ in 2017. He added that this project will be further conducted in the future to better promote ICT development and promote sustainable production and consumption patterns.

Mr Cen Li (Group Customer Manager, China Communications Technology Co Ltd) gave an overview of the development of the digital economy in China. He said that there has been a new development period since 2003 in China regarding high-speed Internet connections. In addition, he noted the new-generation information infrastructure, the digital and intelligent upgrade of traditional industries, the new smart city construction, and the integration of the Internet with real economy.

He explained why there was a need for the ‘ICT training center for high-skilled workers’ in China: less supply, more demand, and the low level of technology. However, he said that they are facing challenges such as training device selection, training courses design, etc.

Ms Xin Li (Senior Engineer, National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center of China (CNCERT)) explained the introduction of e-commerce security development in China. She talked about the e-commerce trend and explained that e-commerce has become an important growth point of the national economy. She mentioned the platforms for service and underlined the growth of mobile e-commerce.

Moreover, she noted cybersecurity threats for payments, data protection, spam messages, etc. She highlighted data security and personal privacy as huge challenges for e-commerce in China. In addition, she shared the Chinese experiences concerning the legislation that would clarify responsibilities, structure the market better, and strengthen the main position of enterprises.

Ms Meiyan Li (Senior Engineer, CNCERT) explained her work on ‘promoting the construction of new type smart cities with different classification’. She noted that more than 300 Chinese cities have launched smart city construction plans. She highlighted how China’s smart city construction has benefited people’s lives in building, power grids, urban public utilities, etc.

Li said that the smart cities are actively practicing new development concepts, and that the industrial chain of upstream and downstream service enterprises are being formed. In addition, she explained that China is accelerating the construction of a new type of smart cities with different levels and classifications. Furthermore, she said that the cities need to develop an interconnected and comprehensive program that connects isolated areas between energy and transportation. She concluded that with the development of the smart industry, people will have more sense of gain, happiness and security.

By Gilles D. Bana