Connection Characteristics and Hierarchical Structure of China’s Urban Network-Based on the Communications Technology Service Industry

Abstract

Considering the importance of China’s digital economy, industrial Internet, and high-quality development, this study analyzed China’s urban network from the perspective of the communications technology service industry. Three sub-networks (R & D, sales, and investment) and a comprehensive network were constructed. The density, centrality, and cohesive subgroups of the above network were identified. The results show that: (1) cohesion of urban networks in China is weak and resource sharing is low. (2) From west to east, the urban network forms a multilevel diamond structure in the periphery, a parallelogram structure in the semiperiphery, and a triangle structure in the center. (3) The spatial distribution of cohesive subgroups is scattered, disobeying the first law of geography. By constructing sub-networks and a comprehensive network, the subnetworks that dominate China’s urban networks were identified and their typical characteristics described. This study clarifies the technical support pattern behind China’s digital economy development and industrial internet construction and provides a basis for policy-makers to optimize the country’s high-quality development in the future.