Alibaba Cloud to Triple Global Modular Data Center Capacity and Cut Delivery Times
Alibaba Cloud plans to triple its global modular data center capacity this year, leveraging a fully modular architecture to reduce the delivery time of large AI data centers (AIDCs) to just 100 days. This deployment method also reduces overall construction costs by more than 10% compared to traditional builds. Rapid deployment of AI infrastructure is critical as global demand for AI computing power surges. By slashing delivery times from the typical 6 to 18 months down to 100 days, Alibaba Cloud gains a significant competitive edge in scaling its cloud and AI services globally. The modular approach integrates power supply, cooling, cabinets, and monitoring into standardized, factory-tested units that reduce dependency on traditional machine rooms. This efficiency boost comes as Alibaba Cloud's AI-related revenue reached 8.971 billion RMB, accounting for over 30% of its external revenue.
## BACKGROUND
A modular data center (MDC) is a portable deployment method where critical infrastructure components are engineered and pre-assembled in a factory before being shipped for quick on-site assembly. This architecture is increasingly favored for AI data centers (AIDCs), which require rapid scalability and high-density cooling to support intensive AI workloads.