Chinese tech firm ZTE has launched an integrated data center module designed for AI workloads.

The company unveiled the new product, dubbed the ZXEDC M8000 Intelligent Computing Micro-Module, at Data Center World Asia.

The Chinese company said that the M8000 combines an enclosed cold aisle, liquid-cooled racks, network racks, a coldplate liquid-cooling CDU, secondary-side piping, high-voltage DC power, intelligent busbars, air walls, monitoring, lighting, cabling, and fire linkage in one package. It also said the module can support both general-purpose and AI hybrid deployments.

ZTE said that rack power within the module will range from 20kW to 60kW, with a peak of 250kW per rack. Racks are decoupled from the frame, and operators can retrofit on-site from air to liquid cooling later. ZTE also claims the cooling architecture uses a shared air-and-liquid source, letting operators adjust the ratio between the two.

ZTE said that the system can reach a PUE as low as 1.15 in all regions through free cooling and that the 800V HVDC system, paired with intelligent busbars for in-row power distribution, is rated at up to 98 percent power supply efficiency.

The company says the M8000 is the first liquid cooling solution to receive UL system-level leak-proof certification. ZTE also claims one architecture can support three generations of IT hardware upgrades, reducing the need for large-scale retrofits as capacity grows.

The company launched a similar modular unit last year dubbed the AIDC Prefabricated Container Solution. According to ZTE, the containerized offering can operate with a PUE of 1.15 by incorporating a chilled water wind wall, cold and hot aisle separation, and cold plate liquid cooling with free cooling.

ZTE is typically known for its telecoms offerings, including 5G. The company has partnered with U Mobile, Italy's EOLO, and SLT-Mobitel in recent months for 5G network upgrades in various locations.

Last month, the Chinese vendor also successfully completed a proof-of-concept (POC) of a portable, full off-grid 5G network site powered entirely by 100 percent green energy in Malaysia.