China's compute sector shows a stark split: top model firms pause new subscriptions near capacity limits, while actual intelligent-compute utilization is only 36.8%, with over 60% idle. The mismatch stems from disconnected build-and-operate logic, supply-demand gaps and unlinked cross-region scheduling.
Experts urge shifting from construction to coordination, scheduling and operation: unified monitoring platforms to make idle compute discoverable and billable, elastic leasing and time-sharing pricing, scenario-bound approvals before new builds, compute vouchers subsidizing users rather than builders, and stronger domestic software ecosystems. Western green power and cooling advantages should feed eastern real-time demand through better networks.
Source: China Economic Net
