Ericsson optimistic on China's 5G role

China will be a primary driving force for the large-scale commercial use of 5G in 2020, which will offer a good opportunity for Ericsson AB to expand businesses in the highly competitive market, said Borje Ekholm, CEO of the Swedish telecom equipment maker.

The nation will be among the first places for the industrial internet to take off, thanks to local companies' strong determination to build important telecom infrastructure and push forward smart factory projects, said Ekholm.

The industrial internet of things business model works on the idea that cloud, security, connectivity and service enablement operate as a combined infrastructure, he said. But most importantly, smart factories with fifth-generation mobile communication technology put smart tools in the hands of smart people.