Data infrastructure blueprint unveiled

China plans to complete construction of a national data infrastructure by 2029, while establishing a public data service system and data operation mechanism, according to a draft guideline published by the National Data Administration on Friday.

The move is part of the country's broader push to facilitate the circulation of data, bolster the application and development of data resources, lay a solid foundation for the growth of the digital economy and advance the building of a "Digital China", the administration said.

The draft guideline states that efforts will be made to finish the top-level design of a national data infrastructure between 2024 and 2026, and to build an infrastructure that supports large-scale data circulation and interconnectivity, while fully integrating data networks and computing power facilities between 2027 and 2028.

China will optimize and upgrade traditional network facilities, push ahead with 5G-A deployments from 5G, as well as speed up the research and development of 6G technology, the guideline states. 5G-A refers to 5G advanced technology, a crucial upgrade to the 5G network in functionality and coverage.

Data infrastructure means a new type of infrastructure that provides data collection, aggregation, transmission, processing, circulation, utilization, operation and security services. It integrates hardware, software, model algorithms, standards and specifications and mechanism design. The authority is asking for public opinion on the guideline through Dec 1.

"China's emphasis on the establishment of a national data infrastructure by 2029 is of great significance in promoting the high-quality development of the country's digital economy and unleashing the value of massive data resources," said Zhu Keli, founding director of the China Institute of New Economy.

The move is conducive to not only promoting the effective integration and efficient use of data resources, but also to bolstering the circulation of data, Zhu said, adding that through the construction of a public data service system, the mobility and allocation efficiency of data elements are expected to be elevated significantly, thus injecting new vitality into the digital economy.

Meanwhile, it will help propel deeper integration of data elements with the real economy, boost the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, and cultivate new economic growth drivers, while attracting more social capital and resources to invest in the digital economy domain, Zhu added.

The guideline also calls for a heightened push to promote the circulation of data in a reliable manner, improve the supply of computing power resources, boost high-speed and efficient transmission of data, and ensure data security.

Data has become a new type of production factor and is playing an increasingly vital part in bolstering industrial digitalization, said Pan Helin, a member of the Expert Committee for Information and Communication Economy, which is under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

"The construction and operation of a national data infrastructure is crucial for promoting the circulation, trading and utilization of data elements, building the basic systems for data, cultivating a national integrated data market, and nurturing the new quality productive forces," Pan said.

Moreover, the country will step up efforts to strengthen the classified management and protection of data; establish a high-quality data supply system covering public data, enterprise data and individual data; support the development of public service platforms for data circulation and trading; as well as expand application scenarios of data elements in key industries, the NDA said.