Samsung is planning to build its first “smart city” in China as it tries to capitalize on its growing market share there.
The firm is building an apartment building on the outskirts of Shanghai that will house 1,500 apartments, mostly subsidized by Chinese residents.
Samsung, a global electronics giant with more than a billion smartphones sold globally, plans to build the 1,000 apartments over the next 10 years, with the bulk of them in China, where it is building factories and other infrastructure to produce electronics and other goods.
The tower is the first of its kind in the world, and its scale and location will make it the largest building in China.
The towers, which will be similar to Samsung’s massive towers in Europe, will house up to 1,100 people.
They will be connected to the main shopping malls and major train stations.
Samsung plans to install sensors that measure the height of people and pedestrians to give real-time information about what they are doing and when.
The building will have “smart” infrastructure, like LED lighting and LED signage, which the firm says will make the building feel “more like a living space.”
In a statement, Samsung said the “smartcity” will help the company grow in China by “reducing traffic congestion, enabling people to shop and live in a more natural way.”
Samsung is building the tower as part of its Smart City Initiative, which has been designed to bring Chinese consumers “more choices and access to the internet and entertainment.”
But Samsung is also seeking to expand its presence in the country and is partnering with Chinese companies and tech giants to build new facilities.
The project will also serve as a test bed for its upcoming smart city technology, the company said.
Related: Samsung’s ‘Smart City’ Project Is a ‘Great Idea’ in ChinaBut Samsung will build the tower in the center of Shanghai, which is a traditional commercial district.
The company will also build “micro-lending facilities” to help local businesses expand.
The plans are part of a broader effort by Samsung to develop its own “smart cities” and “smart factories” in the coming years.
Its latest smart cities plan, unveiled in December, is focused on “creating new opportunities for the local manufacturing sector,” according to the firm.
The plan calls for building smart factories that will allow Samsung to compete in the “low-cost manufacturing market” in South Korea and China.
Samsung is seeking to use “smart manufacturing” to improve its manufacturing process, reduce costs and create jobs.
The new buildings will be located in the Shanghai International Airport, one of the busiest in China and a hub for air traffic.
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