"5G technology has opened a new chapter in the development of internet of things (IoT)," said Wu Hequan, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, in an interview on June 11 in Beijing.

Wu suggested that 5G will bring a burst of innovation to internet technology through clouding, virtualization and networking.

Compared to previous generations of communication technology, 5G technology provides users with greater access, higher reliability and lower latency, which are key to the further development of IoT.

The latest communication technology can be used in power grids, ports, refineries, construction companies, airplane manufacturing factories and other manufacturing businesses, according to Wu.

Take the Shanghai-based Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China as an example. The company is dedicated to producing large aircrafts which are assembled by sections of the aircrafts. Each section of the aircraft contains numerous tubes and cables.

In the past, the assembly job was done by experienced workers with the help of detailed drawings. Nowadays, every assembly worker in the company is equipped with a 5G-enabled helmet, which guides its wearers by an 8K high-definition camera and virtual reality technology.

Internet of vehicle is another useful application of 5G technology which allows unmanned driving. The technology is expected to generate $1.5 trillion each year, a scale larger than the present auto industry.

Wu Hequan, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, believes that 5G technology opens a new chapter for the development of IoT. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]