Ministry: Internet of Things output totalled over RM 589bil last year

FUZHOU: China’s industrial output in the Internet of Things exceeded 930 billion yuan (RM 589bil) in 2016, a Industry and Information Technology Ministry official said.

The value was almost six times the level in 2009, when the sector saw 170 billion yuan (RM 107bil) of output, said Zhu Wan, deputy head of informatisation and software service at the ministry, at the opening of a China Internet of Things conference on Thursday in Fuzhou, capital of Fujian province.

“Industrial chains have been formed in chips, sensors, terminal devices, application software, system integration and communication networks, with over 100 million machine-to-machine terminals set up via the mobile communication network,” Zhu said. In June, the ministry announced faster development of the Internet of Things infrastructure and innovation in Internet of Things pilot zones. The zones aim to promote the Internet of Things in public safety, health care, urban management and well-being services.

“Accomplishment has been primarily achieved at the pilot zones such as the Fuzhou economic and technical development zone, with the Internet of Things integrated in retail, transport, environmental protection, medical care and power grids,” Zhu said.

She added that the ministry would help companies that were influential and industry leaders, as well as encourage the creation of small and medium-sized Internet of Things start-ups.