China is set to upgrade its information and communications technology (ICT) capability with a huge investment in information infrastructure in the next three year, in a bid to develop the new economy and maintain the country's growth.
Xinhua News Agency reported that the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has released the guidelines which provides an allocation of about 1.2 trillion yuan (nearly $170 billion) for Internet projects that mainly include improvement on broadband and mobile network.
Under the guidelines, a total of 90,000 kilometers of high-speed fiber-optic trunk cables will be built by 2018, which will expand the coverage of broadband network to all urban areas and nearly 90 percent of areas in the countryside.
In 2015, the country had laid 2.6 million kilometers of fiber optic cable, MIIT said. More than 60 percent of China's broadband users are now on fiber optic connections.
Japan and South Korea are ahead, with around 70 percent each, MIIT telecom development chief Wen Ku said.
About 2 million 4G base stations, mainly for townships and villages, will also be added, which is expected to raise the number of mobile network users to 75 percent of its population.
The points of connections to overseas networks will also be increased from the current 80 to 120, which will raise connectivity to the rest of the world as well as meet the increasing demand for international exchanges.
The use of IPv6 networks will be promoted by government by providing support for R&D for 5G technology. Businesses will also be encouraged to use cloud computing and big data.
The efforts also include cutting red tape in government, bolstering financing support and attracting financial support from private companies to support and join the program.
According to the report, China is pushing efforts to develop and apply information technology to upgrade its industries and create new growth nodes.
The "Broadband China" strategy was proposed in Aug. 2013, which aims to enhance the country's Internet service.