The Wuxi branch of China Telecom signs an agreement to construct a 5G network and pilot applications in Xinwu district on Aug 28. [Photo/wnd.gov.cn]

The Wuxi branch of China Telecom signed an agreement to construct a 5G network and pilot applications in the city's district of Xinwu on Aug 28.

Both sides will promote the construction of the network's infrastructure and explore 5G applications in commerce and people's livelihoods, aiming to make the district more competitive in the internet of things, among other things.

During the signing ceremony, China Telecom Wuxi branch also signed contracts with 10 companies for the network's build-out, including local washing machine and household appliances manufacturer Little Swan Co and Sunan Shuofang International Airport Co, formerly called Wuxi Shuofang Airport.

Five companies will build 5G innovation workstations for the local arm of the telco -- including Wuxi Unicomp Technology Co, Jiangsu Hibao Technology Co and Suzhou Esseniot Smart Medical Technology Co.

Five companies will build 5G innovation workstations for the local arm of the telco. [Photo/wnd.gov.cn]

The rollout of cutting-edge 5G technology is expected to create more than 8 million jobs and 2.9 trillion yuan ($412 billion) in economic added value by 2030, according to the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.

Wuxi's Xinwu district has been making efforts to develop new technology industries, to advance its industrial transformation and upgrade.

A 5G network has been applied in the workshops of Little Swan to help with real-time production monitoring and control. Sunan Shuofang International Airport had also achieved full 5G network coverage.