Who Has the Biggest Data Center in the World?
Data centers are the invisible backbone of the internet. Every search, video stream, AI task, and cloud backup depends on them. But one question keeps popping up online and yes even in tech circles. Who actually owns the biggest data center in the world?
The short answer is China Telecom.
As of now, the largest data center complex on Earth is operated by China Telecom, located in Inner Mongolia, specifically in the Hohhot region. This facility is part of China’s massive national cloud and AI infrastructure push, and the scale is honestly hard to imagine.
How Big Is the World’s Largest Data Center?
The China Telecom Inner Mongolia Information Park spans over 10 million square feet when all phases are combined. That is not a typo. To put it simply, it is bigger than many small towns.
This data center is designed to host hundreds of thousands of servers, supporting cloud computing, big data analytics, artificial intelligence workloads, and government level digital services. The region was chosen very carefully. Inner Mongolia offers cooler temperatures, which naturally reduces cooling costs, and access to relatively low cost electricity.
This mix makes it ideal for hyperscale data operations.
Why China Telecom Leads the Race
China Telecom is one of the largest state owned telecom companies in the world. Their advantage is not just money, but scale and long term planning. The Chinese government has heavily invested in digital infrastructure to support smart cities, AI development, and national data security.
This data center plays a key role in China’s national computing power network, often referred to as the “East Data West Computing” strategy. In simple terms, data generated in eastern cities is processed in massive western data hubs like Inner Mongolia.
It sounds complex, but the idea is efficiency.
What About Google, Amazon, or Microsoft?
Companies like Amazon Web Services, Google, and Microsoft Azure operate some of the most advanced data centers globally. However, they focus on distributed hyperscale campuses rather than one single mega facility.
For example, AWS has dozens of large data centers across the US, Europe, and Asia, but no single site matches the sheer physical size of China Telecom’s Inner Mongolia complex.
So while US tech giants dominate cloud services, China currently holds the title for the biggest single data center location.
Why This Matters for the Future
The size of data centers is no longer just a flex. It reflects where AI power, cloud dominance, and digital control are heading. Bigger data centers mean more computing power, faster AI training, and stronger national tech independence.
As AI, quantum computing, and immersive technologies grow, expect even larger facilities to appear. This race is just getting started, honestly.
Final Take
China Telecom owns the biggest data center in the world, and it is not even close in terms of physical size. Located in Inner Mongolia, this mega facility represents the future of cloud computing and national scale AI infrastructure.
The internet you use every day runs on places like this. Most people never see them, but they quietly run the modern world.