Chinese authorities have recently introduced a comprehensive action plan aimed at advancing the development of computing power infrastructure within the country. This initiative is in line with China’s broader strategy to bolster its digital economy and establish a stronger presence in the global technology landscape.
The plan, which has been jointly issued by six key authorities, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Ministry of Education, and the People’s Bank of China, sets forth ambitious targets for the expansion of China’s computing power infrastructure. One of the primary objectives is to achieve a total computing power of over 300 EFLOPS (exaFLOPS) by the year 2025.
EFLOPS, or exaFLOPS, serves as a unit of measurement for a computer’s processing speed, signifying the number of quintillion (1 followed by 18 zeros) floating-point operations a computer system can complete within a single second. As of August, MIIT reported that China’s computing power had already reached a significant milestone of 197 EFLOPS, securing the country’s position as the world’s second-largest computing power provider.
In addition to enhancing computing power, the action plan also places substantial emphasis on expanding data storage capacity. According to the plan’s projections, China’s data storage capacity is anticipated to surpass a staggering 1,800 exabytes by 2025. This surge in data storage capacity will play a pivotal role in supporting the ever-increasing demand for data processing and storage within the country.
The significance of robust computing power infrastructure cannot be overstated, as it forms the foundation for driving the development of the digital economy. To achieve the outlined objectives, the plan includes a series of strategic measures and initiatives, some of which have already been set into motion. Notably, last year marked the launch of a large-scale project aimed at establishing eight national computing hubs and ten national data center clusters throughout China.
These initiatives are part of China’s broader strategy to advance its digital economy and technological capabilities, with an eye toward fostering innovation, supporting emerging industries, and enhancing its global competitiveness. By bolstering computing power and data storage infrastructure, China aims to not only meet its domestic needs but also establish itself as a key player in the international technology landscape.
The unveiling of this action plan underscores China’s commitment to the development of cutting-edge computing power infrastructure. With ambitious targets and strategic initiatives in place, China is positioning itself to be a formidable force in the digital age, underpinning its vision for a thriving digital economy in the years to come.