NIDA DCN WG: Addressing Intelligent Computing Challenges

Introduction to the Series Report:

Working Groups （WG）are the engine driving the development and implementation of international standards, pooling the expertise of global specialists and using consensus to drive technical specifications and industry practices in specific fields. Within the Hetao International Organization Headquarters, dozens of working groups exhibit a vibrant landscape of high specialization and domain diversity. To overcome the inherent challenges of cross-regional and cross-time-zone collaboration, the digital collaboration platform AllianceHub plays a crucial role. Through integrated online tools, it streamlines communication and decision-making processes, enabling global experts to concentrate on core deliberations, improving the quality and value density of outcomes, effectively underpinning the efficient operation of the Hetao working group ecosystem, and establishing global innovation influence.

NIDA Data Center Network Working Group

Addressing Intelligent Computing Challenges

Within the framework of the Network Innovation and Development Alliance (NIDA), which is dedicated to defining the evolution path of global internet infrastructure and driving the upgrade of the data communication industry, the Data Center Network Working Group (WG03) undertakes the critical mission of technical advancement. The core task of this working group is to conduct in-depth technical research and standardization focusing on the architectural evolution and interconnection protocols of data center networks. Facing severe challenges in network communication efficiency and latency brought by prominent emerging scenarios like intelligent computing and high-performance computing (HPC), WG03 is committed to proposing innovative solutions and addressing prevalent practical issues in network construction and operations and maintenance (O&M), such as reliability, security, and availability, thereby laying a solid foundation for the robust development of next-generation data center networks.

The composition of the NIDA Data Center Network Working Group (WG03) reflects broad industry representation and extensive professional expertise. The working group gathers scholars from top scientific research institutions such as the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), Peng Cheng Laboratory, and the Computer Network Information Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), who provide a solid foundation for cutting-edge technology research and theoretical exploration. Concurrently, experts from enterprises including China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) Data Center, and Shenzhen Smart City Group contribute practical experience and insights into requirements from large-scale network construction and O&M. Furthermore, the participation of equipment manufacturers and technology companies like Huawei Technologies, ZTE Corporation, Suzhou Centec Communications Co., Ltd., Zhuhai Nebula Matrix Technology Co., Ltd., and Xinertel Technologies ensures that standardization is closely aligned with industrial implementation capabilities. Notably, the involvement of application and cloud service enterprises such as iFLYTEK, Ping An Technology, and Tencent Technology more directly reflects user pain points and network performance demands in emerging scenarios like intelligent computing.

Guo Liang, the working group chair from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), emphasized: "Facing the surge in network demand and increased complexity brought by intelligent computing, the core task of WG03 is to build industry consensus and provide a clear roadmap and practical guidance for the efficient and reliable construction of next-generation data center networks through standardization."

The working group provides guidance to the industry by publishing technical reports, white papers, and key standards. For example, its recently released standard, 'T/NIDA 001-2024 Technical Requirements for Intelligent Computing Data Center Network Construction', directly addresses the urgent need for applicable standards in intelligent computing center construction, aiming to resolve industry pain points and guide the planning, design, and construction of next-generation data center networks.

To ensure effective collaboration among global experts, the NIDA Data Center Network Working Group (WG03) fully utilizes the AllianceHub digital collaboration platform. The daily operations of the working group—including the submission and discussion of technical proposals, the arrangement and execution of online meetings, and online voting on important matters—are conducted systematically via AllianceHub, significantly enhancing collaboration efficiency across different regions and time zones. To communicate with the working group or participate in its activities, you can interact through the AllianceHub platform or contact them directly via email at contact@nida-alliance.com.

Note: The article is reprinted from Comentropy Service Center WeChat official account.