The groundbreaking ceremony for the Huayun big data center is held in Hefei on Aug 29. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu]

Construction on the Huayun big data center, which will focus on the innovation and application of information technology, started in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone, Anhui province on Aug 29.

The center, with a total investment of 1 billion yuan ($146.52 million), is being funded by Huayun, China's leading cloud computing service provider, and will be built and operated by Runxun, an operator of internet data centers. It is expected to be put into operation in 2021.

After completion, it will be equipped with nearly 10,000 cabinets to provide computing and storage services for the government, finance, education, and medical care sectors and will support the development of new-generation information technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, big data, 5G, and the internet of things in Anhui and the Yangtze River Delta region.

Xu Guangbin, president of Huayun, said that as China is supporting the growth of new infrastructure projects and the Yangtze River Delta region is promoting integrated development, the company will build the center into a digital base and driving force behind the development of digital economy in the region.