China's Internet of Things (IoT) connections are expected to exceed 3.5 billion this year, data released at an industrial conference showed on Friday. The first Conference on Sustainable Development of Global Intelligently Interconnected Digital Economy and World Internet of Things Convention 2025 opened in Beijing on Friday. Themed "Intelligently Interconnected New Economy, Smart Society in the New Era," the two-day event has brought together officials, experts, scholars and business representatives from over 80 countries to discuss the role of IoT in advancing a common and sustainable digital transformation of the global economy. IoT connects everyday devices to the internet, enabling them to collect data, communicate with each other and operate automatically. From household appliances to industrial equipment, IoT facilitates remote monitoring and control, delivering smarter and more efficient performance. China's IoT infrastructure development has continued to accelerate. The country has launched a commercial trial of satellite IoT services, and the number of 5G base stations supporting IoT is expected to exceed 4.8 million across China. China has invested over 8 billion yuan (over 1.13 billion U.S. dollars) in the IoT sector and released 86 national standards for IoT. Boosted by these preferable policies, China's IoT communication technologies are rapidly evolving from 5G toward 6G, satellite constellations and quantum communication, with new networks, models, and business formats emerging continuously. Shotlist: Beijing, China - Nov 28, 2025: 1. Various of World Internet of Things Convention 2025 in progress, attendees; 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) He Xuming, chairman, World Internet of Things Conference Executive Committee (ending with shots 3-6): "China's traditional digital economy is expected to achieve an annual output value of over 80 trillion yuan (over 11.28 trillion U.S. dollars) this year. Notably, more than 1.2 million enterprises now meet the criteria for advanced IoT-empowered digital economy, positioning China as a global innovation powerhouse driven by new quality productive forces."; FILE: China - Exact Location and Date Unknown 3. 5G base station; 4. Various of equipment in operation; staff members at work; 5. Automobile assembly line; 6. Various of robotic arms in operation; 7. Various of engineers working in factory; 8. Sign showing "IoT Innovation Exhibition Center"; 9. Various of engineers at work, equipment in operation; Beijing, China - Nov 28, 2025 10. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Ni Jianzhong, chairman, China Mobile Communications Association (starting with shot 9/ending with shot 11) "It is estimated that the scale of China's digital economy supported by the IoT will maintain a strong growth rate of 10 percent in coming years."; FILE: China - Exact Location and Date Unknown 11. Various of equipment in operation, engineers at work; 12. Animation showing cloud computing process. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]