Revenue up 12.9 percent, profit up 23.6 percent, growth rates accelerated by 3.5 and 16.6 percentage points respectively

This is according to data from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (May 15, 2026).

Revenue of China’s digital industry in the first quarter reached 9.5 trillion yuan — about 1.39 trillion US dollars. That is 12.9 percent higher than the same period last year. The growth rate is 3.5 percentage points above last year’s figure.

Total profit of the digital industry for this period reached 737.8 billion yuan. That is 23.6 percent higher than a year ago. The growth rate accelerated by 16.6 percentage points.

By the end of March, the number of 5G base stations in China reached 4.958 million.

In the first three months of the year, the value-added output of major companies in the electronic information manufacturing sector grew by 13.6 percent year on year. Revenue in the software sector increased by 11.7 percent year on year.

9.5 trillion yuan in three months. That is more than the annual GDP of many countries. China’s digital economy is growing so fast that old figures become outdated faster than reports are issued. Nearly 5 million 5G towers are not just about connectivity. They are the foundation for everything — from smart factories to driverless taxis. Profit has grown by nearly a quarter. The question is not whether China can maintain the pace. The question is who else in the world can run at this speed. So far — silence.