Having accumulated significant experience in the internet of things (IoT), Fujian province is expected to develop a new market based on narrowband networks as part of its development of the industry, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Narrowband IoT experienced rapid growth in Fujian after China’s first NB IoT laboratory settled in Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian, in 2016.

The national narrowband IoT laboratory in Mawei district, Fuzhou, Fujian province. [Photo/Xinhua]

The province hosted an inspection of Fujian’s advances in the sector at its first IoT innovation contest in Fuzhou’s Mawei district in late May. China Telecom’s Fujian company announced at the contest that it will open a narrowband IoT network in Fujian, paving the way for massive commercial use — the “l(fā)ast kilometer” of IoT technology development. Once the network is in use, Fujian will be one of the few provinces in China to have introduced the cutting-edge technology. Fujian Telecom has set up 17,000 NB IoT base stations across the province, according to Xinhua News Agency.

China Telecom’s Fujian company launches its NB IoT network in Fuzhou in May. [Photo/Xinhua]

Narrowband IoT is a new development. Based on cellular networks, it supports massive access points and functions with low power consumption. It can be used in remote reading systems smart parking, environmental monitoring and intelligent agriculture.

Narrowband technology is seen as a breakthrough in realizing the internet of everything.

Sixty percent of IoT products have been low speed applications since the concept of IoT was first developed in 2008. Most of these applications operate through short distance communications technology such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, instead of through mobile networks, said Wu Hequan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

But narrowband technology is expected to change this scenario. According to Wu, narrowband IoT can operate through existing networks — GSM, UMTS or LTE — to lower deployment costs and realize smooth upgrading, thus opening a new era in IoT.

Ni Guangnan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said that IoT drove into a whole new channel with the arrival of narrowband technology. When attending the IoT innovation contest in Fujian, Ni said that whoever takes advantage of this new technology will take the lead in the industry.