This year, the number of Internet of Things (IoT) connections in China is expected to exceed 3.5 billion, according to reports from an industry conference in Beijing.

The First Conference on Sustainable Development of the Global Intelligently Interconnected Digital Economy and the World IoT Convention 2025 was opened in the Chinese capital. The two-day event brought together officials, experts, scholars, and business representatives from more than 80 countries to discuss the role of IoT in the sustainable digital transformation of the global economy.

IoT connects everyday devices to the internet, enabling them to collect data, interact with each other, and operate automatically. From household appliances to industrial equipment, IoT enables remote monitoring and control, enhancing the efficiency and intelligence of various processes.

The development of IoT infrastructure in China continues to accelerate. The country has launched commercial operation of satellite IoT services, and the number of 5G base stations supporting IoT will exceed 4.8 million.

“It is expected that China’s traditional digital economy will reach a production volume of more than 80 trillion yuan (about 11.28 trillion US dollars) this year. More than 1.2 million enterprises meet the criteria of an advanced IoT-based digital economy, positioning China as a global innovation hub,” said He Xuemin, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the World IoT Conference.

China has invested more than 8 billion yuan (over 1.13 billion US dollars) in the IoT sector and has issued 86 national standards. Supported by national policies, IoT technologies are rapidly developing — from 5G to 6G, satellite constellations, and quantum communication — emerging in new networks, models, and business formats.

“It is expected that the scale of China’s IoT-driven digital economy will maintain a high annual growth rate of around 10 percent in the coming years,” said Ni Jianzhong, Chairman of the China Mobile Communications Association.