Underwater data center in good condition

The first module of the Hainan Undersea Data Center is launched on March 31 in Lingshui Li autonomous county of Hainan province. [Photo by Tang Fei/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The Hainan Undersea Data Center has been running smoothly since its first module was launched on March 31 in Lingshui Li autonomous county in Hainan province, according to the builder, Beijing Highlander Digital Technology Co.

So far, two modules have been deployed, serving two clients, with the third one scheduled to be operating by the third quarter this year.

As the world's first commercial undersea data center of its kind, it connects modules to a shore station using sea cables. Sub-systems such as power distribution, networking and monitoring equipment are all located inside the shore station.

The first module of the Hainan Undersea Data Center is launched on March 31 in Lingshui Li autonomous county of Hainan province. [Photo by Tang Fei/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Staff can keep an eye on the modules through an underwater monitoring system.

At the core of the center are the data modules-cylindrical pressure vessels that weigh some 1,300 tons, roughly equivalent to the weight of 1,000 cars. It has a design life of 25 years.

As the data center is located offshore on the sea bed, seawater can provide natural cooling for the data modules. While consuming less energy, water and land area, the center also has the benefits of higher computing power density, better security and reduced networking lag.