On April 22nd, Shantou successfully completed the first full-chain closed-loop verification covering "offshore data centers, token generation, overseas API requests and compliant cross-border data transfer". This marks the first time that China's AI technology and computing-power resources have been exported as high-value-added digital services.

According to reports, when an overseas user initiates an API request, the data is transmitted through compliant channels to a designated data-processing zone within the Shantou Overseas Chinese Pilot Zone. Large language model(LLM) inference and token consumption are then completed at the Guangdong Mobile Eastern Guangdong Data Center before the results are sent back to overseas clients via submarine cables. The entire process is physically isolated from China's domestic internet, forming a relatively self-contained cross-border service loop. According to a comparison recently circulating online, the domestic cost of one kilowatt-hour of electricity is about 0.5 yuan. Once converted into tokens for export, its value reaches 11 yuan, representing roughly a 22-fold increase.

The realization of the closed-loop system relies on a range of supporting infrastructure. In addition to data centers, the Shantou International Submarine Cable Landing Station has three direct international optical cables connecting multiple countries and regions, helping to reduce latency for token export. The Haojiang Power Supply Bureau of Shantou, Guangdong of China Southern Power Grid has established a "dual power supply and dual circuit" protection system to ensure full‑process power reliability for the cable landing station, the data center and other core facilities. Meanwhile, as a core hub of the Eastern Guangdong Base—one of China's five major offshore wind power bases—Shantou leverages its offshore wind farms to provide a steady supply of green electricity for token export.

一度电的价值跃升：全国首个“词元出海”闭环验证完成

4月22日，汕头成功完成“离岸数据中心—生产词元—海外调用—数据合规传输”的全链路闭环验证，这是中国AI技术与算电资源首次以高附加值的数字服务形式出口。

据介绍，海外用户发起调用后，数据会通过合规链路进入华侨试验区的“来数加工”专区，在广东移动粤东数据中心完成大模型推理和词元消耗后再通过海底光缆返回海外客户端。整条链路与国内互联网完全物理隔离，形成一个相对封闭的跨境服务闭环。用近日网络上流行的价值换算来讲，国内一度电的成本约0.5元，转化为词元后出口价值达到11元，能实现约22倍的价值跃升。

实现这一闭环，离不开各方设施的支持。除了数据中心，汕头国际海缆登陆站拥有3条直通全球多个国家和地区的国际光缆，负责解决“词元出海”的时延痛点；南方电网广东汕头濠江供电局为海缆登陆站、数据中心等核心设施构建“双电源+双回路”的立体化保障体系，全流程保障供电；同时作为全国五大海上风电基地之一粤东基地的主阵地，汕头的海上风电场也正为“词元出海”提供着源源不断的绿电供给。

文｜记者 董鹏程 通讯员 欧阳逸雪 沈甸
图源网络
译｜魏薇
英文审校｜林佳岱