Demand for computing power surges as infrastructure is put in place
Intelligent computing comprises more than 30% of the total computing power, and the national integrated computing system is steadily progressing.
Recently, a number of digital infrastructure projects have been accelerated, with intelligent computing centers becoming a focus of development. Intelligent computing centers in Beijing, Sichuan, Ningxia, Henan, and other regions have commenced construction or become operational. The latest data reveals that China’s computing power infrastructure construction has reached a world-leading level, with intelligent computing power accounting for over 30% of the total.
The reporter learned that, going forward, many regions and departments will continue to optimize the layout of computing infrastructure, increase the supply of high-performance intelligent computing power, enhance computing services, further meet the development needs of artificial intelligence applications, and accelerate the construction of a national integrated computing system.
In early July, the Tianfu Intelligent Computing Southwest Computing Center officially began operations in Chengdu, Sichuan. According to reports, the center will utilize computing power to support Chengdu in establishing a core artificial intelligence industry worth hundreds of billions of yuan, enabling artificial intelligence innovation in fields such as industrial manufacturing, natural sciences, biomedicine, and scientific research simulation experiments.
This instance is not isolated. Over the past month, Yinchuan Green Intelligent Computing Center projects have been launched; Beijing Mobile has constructed the first large-scale integrated training and push intelligent computing center in Beijing to support the training and reasoning of large models with high complexity and high computing requirements of tens of billions and hundreds of billions; Zhengzhou Artificial Intelligence Computing Center has commenced construction with a total investment exceeding 1.6 billion yuan… New digital infrastructure, represented by intelligent computing centers, is accelerating its construction and implementation.
Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on July 15 showed that as of the end of May, 460,000 new 5G base stations had been constructed nationwide; over 10 intelligent computing centers with high-performance computer clusters were planned, and intelligent computing power accounted for more than 30% of the total computing power.
“The explosive development of applications such as artificial intelligence big models has led to a surge in demand for intelligent computing power.” Shan Zhiguang, director of the Information Technology and Industry Development Department of the National Information Center, stated in an interview with the Economic Information Daily that intelligent computing has grown rapidly and has become the fastest-growing category within China’s computing power structure. Among them, big models are the largest demanders of intelligent computing power, accounting for nearly 60% of the demand. It is estimated that by 2027, the annual compound growth rate of China’s intelligent computing power will reach 33.9%.
As the demand for intelligent computing power increases, various parties are actively deploying to further enhance the supply capacity of intelligent computing power. The relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently announced that it will strengthen leadership in intelligent computing and optimize the computing power structure. The ministry actively promotes the construction of artificial intelligence computing architecture and software ecology, accelerates the breakthrough of several iconic technical products and solutions, and encourages all parties to explore new models for the construction and operation of intelligent computing centers.
In addition, many regions have also issued special plans to clarify construction objectives for the next few years and improve support measures in terms of technology, application, funding, and other aspects. For instance, Jiangsu has issued a special plan for the development of provincial computing power infrastructure, proposing that by 2030, the total computing power in use in the province will exceed 50 EFLOPS (EFLOPS refers to 100 trillion floating-point operations per second), and the proportion of intelligent computing power will surpass 45%; Gansu has proposed providing policy support for the new computing power network infrastructure in terms of land use, municipal supporting facilities construction, talent recruitment, and funding.
Industry insiders believe that the innovative development of computing power infrastructure is expected to drive the growth of digital economy-related industries and inject new momentum into economic growth. Relevant research indicates that for every 1 percentage point increase in the computing power index, the digital economy and gross domestic product (GDP) will increase by 3.3‰ and 1.8‰, respectively.
It is noteworthy that, in accordance with the deployment outlined in this year’s Government Work Report to “moderately advance the construction of digital infrastructure and accelerate the formation of a national integrated computing power system,” various parties are exploring computing power interconnection while solidifying the foundation for computing power development.
On July 11, China’s first public computing power interconnection platform was launched. The platform will identify, register, and test computing power resources throughout the country. Through the platform, computing power resources and related computing power scheduling services nationwide can be queried, providing real and reliable computing power support for all sectors and accelerating the promotion of computing power interconnection.
The National Data Administration, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments have also accelerated their deployments, including establishing a national integrated computing power system that is networked, dispatchable, universally accessible, green, and secure; optimizing the backbone network architecture around national computing power hub nodes, constructing a high-speed computing power network, and deepening the empowerment and support role of new information infrastructure for the digital transformation of the economy and society; cultivating a group of competitive computing power service companies and creating a national unified computing power service market.
Yu Xiaohui, president of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, believes that the next step involves strengthening top-level design, studying and formulating guiding opinions and implementation guidelines for computing power interconnection, promoting pilot demonstrations, and coordinating the construction of a multi-level computing power interconnection platform; accelerating standard construction, forming a comprehensive computing power interconnection standard system, guiding industry norms construction, and utilizing standards to drive technological innovation and industrial practice.
Shan Zhiguang stated that we should focus on the development and business needs of the artificial intelligence industry and carry out the construction of intelligent computing centers in computing power hubs and regions with strong artificial intelligence development foundations in a concentrated, standardized, efficient, and green manner. Through scientific layout, cloud sharing, computing network integration, and efficient scheduling, we can achieve moderate and advanced development of intelligent computing resources. Simultaneously, we should establish an industrial ecology of coordinated development of investment, construction, operation, management, and utilization, continuously improve the utilization rate of intelligent computing resources, drive the continuous decline of intelligent computing costs, and effectively play the role of “universal benefit” and “universal wisdom” of intelligent computing. (Reporter Guo Qian, intern Zhu Yuying)
[Editor: Tu Tian]
Demand Surges as Computing Power Infrastructure is Put into Place
The scale of intelligent computing accounts for more than 30%, and the national integrated computing system is steadily advancing.
Intelligent Computing Centers Take Center Stage
Recent times have seen the acceleration of several digital infrastructure projects, with intelligent computing centers emerging as a focal point. These centers are being constructed or have already been put into operation in various locations including Beijing, Sichuan, Ningxia, and Henan. The latest data reveals that China’s computing power infrastructure construction has reached a global leading level, with the proportion of intelligent computing power exceeding 30%.
Future plans involve optimizing computing infrastructure layout in numerous regions and departments. The goal is to increase the supply of high-performance intelligent computing power, enhance computing services, cater to the evolving needs of artificial intelligence applications, and expedite the construction of a nationally integrated computing system.
A Case Study: Tianfu Intelligent Computing Southwest Computing Center
In early July, the Tianfu Intelligent Computing Southwest Computing Center commenced operations in Chengdu, Sichuan. This center will leverage computing power to support Chengdu in establishing a multi-billion yuan core industry focused on artificial intelligence. It will also empower AI innovation across various fields such as industrial manufacturing, natural sciences, biomedicine, and scientific research simulation experiments. This center represents a testament to the rapidly expanding landscape of intelligent computing infrastructure across China.
Accelerated Construction and Implementation
Several new digital infrastructure projects driven by intelligent computing centers are witnessing rapid construction and implementation. Yinchuan Green Intelligent Computing Center projects have been initiated. Beijing Mobile has established the first large-scale integrated training and push intelligent computing center in Beijing. This center will support the training and reasoning of large models characterized by high complexity and significant computing demands, ranging from tens of billions to hundreds of billions. Zhengzhou Artificial Intelligence Computing Center is under construction with a total investment exceeding 1.6 billion yuan.
Demand Driven by AI Advancements
The National Bureau of Statistics released data on July 15th, indicating substantial progress in infrastructure development: As of the end of May, 460,000 new 5G base stations had been constructed nationwide. More than 10 intelligent computing centers equipped with high-performance computer clusters have been planned, contributing to an intelligent computing power share exceeding 30% of the total computing power.
Shan Zhiguang, director of the Information Technology and Industry Development Department of the National Information Center, attributes the surge in demand for intelligent computing power to the explosive development of applications like artificial intelligence big models. He underscores the rapid growth of intelligent computing, emerging as the fastest expanding segment within China’s computing power structure. Big models are identified as the largest consumer of intelligent computing power, accounting for nearly 60% of the demand. It is projected that by 2027, the annual compound growth rate of China’s intelligent computing power will reach 33.9%.
Enhancing Supply Capacity
Recognizing the escalating demand for intelligent computing power, numerous entities are actively deploying strategies to enhance supply capacity. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has announced plans to strengthen the leadership of intelligent computing and optimize the computing power structure. Efforts are underway to promote the construction of artificial intelligence computing architecture and software ecosystems. To accelerate the development of groundbreaking technical products and solutions, the ministry is encouraging the exploration of innovative models for the construction and operation of intelligent computing centers.
Regional Initiatives and Support Measures
Simultaneously, several provinces have unveiled specific plans to delineate construction objectives for the upcoming years and bolster support measures in areas such as technology, application, and funding. Jiangsu, for instance, has issued a special plan for the development of its provincial computing power infrastructure. It aims to achieve a total computing power in use exceeding 50 EFLOPS (EFLOPS represents 100 trillion floating-point operations per second) by 2030, with intelligent computing power surpassing 45% of the total. Gansu has proposed extending policy support for the new computing power network infrastructure, encompassing land use, municipal supporting facilities construction, talent recruitment, and financial assistance.
Economic Growth and Industry Development
Industry experts firmly believe that the innovative evolution of computing power infrastructure will serve as a catalyst for the growth of industries associated with the digital economy, injecting fresh impetus into economic progress. Research suggests that for every 1 percentage point increase in the computing power index, the digital economy and gross domestic product (GDP) will witness respective increases of 3.3‰ and 1.8‰ respectively.
National Integrated Computing Power System
Aligned with the directives of this year’s Government Work Report, which calls for “moderate advancement in the construction of digital infrastructure and the accelerated formation of a national integrated computing power system,” various stakeholders are diligently exploring the interconnectivity of computing power while solidifying the foundation for computing power development.
China’s First Public Computing Power Interconnection Platform
On July 11th, China’s inaugural public computing power interconnection platform was unveiled. This platform will play a crucial role in identifying, registering, and testing computing power resources nationwide. It will facilitate the querying of computing power resources and related scheduling services from across China, providing accurate and reliable computing power support to all sectors of the economy and accelerating the promotion of computing power interconnection.
National Data Administration and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology Initiatives
The National Data Administration, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments have accelerated their deployments, which include:
- Constructing a national integrated computing power system characterized by network connectivity, dispatch capability, universal accessibility, green attributes, and security.
- Optimizing the backbone network architecture centered on national computing power hub nodes, building a high-speed computing power network, and deepening the empowerment and support function of new information infrastructure for the digital transformation of the economy and society.
- Nurturing a group of competitive computing power service companies and creating a unified national computing power service market.
Future Directions and Key Considerations
Yu Xiaohui, president of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, emphasizes that future efforts should prioritize:
- Strengthening top-level design, studying, and formulating guiding opinions and implementation guidelines for computing power interconnection.
- Promoting pilot demonstrations and coordinating the construction of a multi-level computing power interconnection platform.
- Accelerating standard construction to shape a comprehensive computing power interconnection standard system.
- Guiding industry norm construction and leveraging standards to drive technological innovation and industrial practices.
Shan Zhiguang emphasizes the importance of aligning intelligent computing center development with the needs of the artificial intelligence industry. These centers should be strategically positioned in computing power hubs and regions with strong AI development foundations, adhering to principles of intensity, standardization, efficiency, and environmental friendliness. Achieving moderate and advanced development of intelligent computing resources can be facilitated through scientific layout, cloud sharing, computing network integration, and efficient scheduling.
He recommends establishing an industrial ecosystem fostering coordinated development across investment, construction, operation, management, and use phases. By continuously improving the utilization rate of intelligent computing resources and driving down the cost of intelligent computing, it will become possible to effectively leverage the “universal benefit” and “universal wisdom” of intelligent computing.
