In the article "New tech infrastructure will help economies recover after COVID-19" on the World Economic Forum, author Lei Xu is making the point that smart supply chain and smart logistics will become indispensable to a functioning economy in the future. In the example of China, the central government is now investing in the development of the “new infrastructure” – including the deployment of 5G networks and data centres. This "new infrastructure" plays a key role in the recovery of the economy, since online sales opportunities, online medical advice and online pharmacies have proven to be critical in the crisis. 

"The general public realize that economic and social operations have not shut down despite their increased isolation. An important factor for this is simply enabling support of the new infrastructure: technologies including 5G networks, data centres, artificial intelligence, industrial internet, the Internet of Things, and so on. [...] The new infrastructure is also applicable to consumption, new models of production in a variety of industries, and even rapid economic development. This is the smart and digital foundation of high quality economic development, which gives rise to new models, new business types and new services. It opens up a broad space for new manufacturing, new services and new consumption."

Source: New tech infrastructure will help economies recover after COVID-19

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