Underwater Data Centers: Submerged Server Farms for Enhanced Cooling Efficiency

Here's something I find fascinating about modern computing: the tech industry's most innovative cooling solution sits at the bottom of the ocean. Underwater data centers aren't just a quirky experiment — they're reshaping how we think about server infrastructure. And the ripple effects? They're reaching everything from cloud storage to real-time platforms like 1xbet online, where split-second processing can make or break user experience.

The Science Behind Submerged Computing Infrastructure

Microsoft's Project Natick proved what many engineers suspected: the ocean makes an excellent air conditioning system. Underwater data center cooling systems revealed that submerged servers failed eight times less frequently than their land-based cousins. That's not just impressive — it's economically transformative.

But here's what really caught my attention about underwater deployment:

• Ocean temperatures stay remarkably stable at 35-40 meter depths
• Maintenance becomes predictable rather than reactive
• Energy bills drop dramatically without traditional cooling systems
• Natural disasters? They're surface problems now
• Electromagnetic interference virtually disappears underwater

Water conducts heat 25 times more efficiently than air. At moderate depths, you're looking at consistent 2-8°C temperatures year-round. I've worked with facilities managers who'd kill for that kind of thermal stability. No more server rooms that feel like saunas, no more emergency cooling repairs during heat waves.

Real-Time Processing and Low-Latency Applications

Now, let's talk about speed — and I mean real speed. Low latency data processing underwater demonstrates measurable improvements in response times across financial trading, gaming, and streaming applications. The stable environment means processors can run at peak performance without thermal throttling.

Sports betting platforms particularly benefit from this consistency. Think about it: during a live football match, odds calculations happen thousands of times per second. Each goal, each penalty, each substitution triggers instant recalculations across multiple markets. Underwater servers handle these computations without the temperature spikes that plague traditional facilities.

I've seen betting systems crash during major events simply because server cooling couldn't keep up with demand. Underwater data centers eliminate this bottleneck entirely. The ocean doesn't care if it's the World Cup final — it maintains the same cooling capacity regardless.

Environmental Impact and Energy Efficiency

The environmental angle is where underwater data centers really shine. These facilities consume roughly 40% less energy than traditional counterparts, primarily by eliminating air conditioning costs. That's significant when you consider data centers currently account for about 1% of global electricity consumption.

Current projections suggest widespread adoption could reduce global data center energy usage by 15-20%. As someone who's watched the industry's carbon footprint grow exponentially, this reduction represents a meaningful step toward sustainable computing.

The ocean environment provides natural filtration and temperature regulation — services that cost millions annually in traditional facilities. Yes, saltwater corrosion was initially a concern, but specialized coatings and sealed environments have largely resolved these issues. Marine ecosystem studies show minimal environmental impact when facilities are properly designed.

Deployment presents unique challenges, though. Accessing underwater equipment for maintenance requires specialized vessels and trained technicians. Cable management becomes exponentially more complex when you're dealing with subsea installations. Remote monitoring systems and predictive maintenance algorithms help, but they can't replace human expertise entirely.

Installation costs currently exceed traditional facilities by 20-30%. But here's the interesting part: operational savings through reduced energy consumption and improved reliability often recover these investments within 3-5 years. That's a compelling business case for companies planning long-term infrastructure investments.

Scalability depends heavily on geography. You need stable underwater terrain, moderate currents, and reasonable coastal access. Not every region offers these conditions, which limits deployment options. Current research focuses on expanding viable zones and improving underwater construction techniques.

Future developments look promising. Larger underwater facilities are in development, and deployment methods continue improving. As the technology matures, costs should decrease while performance benefits increase. The combination of environmental advantages and operational efficiency makes underwater data centers increasingly attractive.

The integration with existing global networks continues evolving. Submarine cables already connect continents, and underwater data centers can leverage these connections effectively. This infrastructure supports growing demand for distributed computing power and edge processing capabilities — exactly what modern digital services require.

Nvidia Commits $100 Billion to OpenAI in Historic AI Infrastructure Partnership

In a move set to redefine the global artificial intelligence landscape, Nvidia has announced a strategic partnership with OpenAI that includes a staggering investment of up to $100 billion. The deal aims to deploy 10 gigawatts of Nvidia-powered AI data centers, marking one of the largest infrastructure commitments in tech history.

The partnership was formalized through a letter of intent signed by both companies, with the first gigawatt of computing power scheduled to go live in the second half of 2026 on Nvidia’s upcoming Vera Rubin platform. This deployment will involve millions of GPUs and is expected to support OpenAI’s next-generation models, including its push toward artificial general intelligence (AGI).

Everything starts with compute, said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Compute infrastructure will be the basis for the economy of the future, and we will utilize what we’re building with Nvidia to both create new AI breakthroughs and empower people and businesses with them at scale.

The deal is structured as two intertwined transactions: Nvidia will invest in OpenAI for non-voting shares, while OpenAI will use the capital to purchase Nvidia’s chips. The first tranche of $10 billion will be deployed once OpenAI finalizes its purchase agreement for Nvidia systems.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang described the partnership as “monumental in size,” noting that the 10 GW deployment is equivalent to 4–5 million GPUs—roughly double the company’s annual output. “This investment and infrastructure partnership mark the next leap forward—deploying 10 gigawatts to power the next era of intelligence,” Huang said.

The announcement sent Nvidia’s stock soaring by 4.4%, adding nearly $170 billion to its market cap. Oracle, which is collaborating with OpenAI, Microsoft, and SoftBank on the $500 billion Stargate AI data center initiative, also saw a 6% bump.

Despite the excitement, analysts have raised concerns about the circular nature of the deal, with Nvidia’s investment potentially returning to the company via chip purchases. However, both firms emphasized the strategic value of co-optimizing hardware and software roadmaps to accelerate AI development.

OpenAI, which now boasts over 700 million weekly active users, will treat Nvidia as its preferred compute and networking partner. The collaboration complements existing alliances with Microsoft, Oracle, and SoftBank, and does not alter OpenAI’s ongoing efforts to develop its own custom AI chips.

As competition intensifies among tech giants like Google, Amazon, Meta, and xAI, this Nvidia–OpenAI alliance signals a new phase in the race to build scalable, high-performance AI infrastructure.

Google and Reliance Unveil Dedicated Cloud Region in Jamnagar to Power India’s AI Future

In a landmark announcement at Reliance Industries’ 48th Annual General Meeting, Google CEO Sundar Pichai revealed the launch of a dedicated Google Cloud region in Jamnagar, built exclusively for Reliance. The move marks a pivotal step in India’s digital transformation, aimed at accelerating AI adoption across industries and democratizing access to advanced computing infrastructure.

Purpose-Built for AI Innovation

The Jamnagar region will host Google Cloud’s latest-generation AI hypercomputer, offering full-stack environments for generative AI development, model training, and enterprise deployment. Designed and powered by Reliance, the facility will run entirely on green energy, aligning with the company’s sustainability goals.

This region is purpose-built to support India’s AI ambitions — from large enterprises to kirana stores, said Sundar Pichai.

“It’s a new chapter in India’s technology journey,” added Mukesh Ambani.

Infrastructure Highlights

• Hypercomputer Deployment: Optimized for large-scale generative models and AI-powered applications
• Green Energy Backbone: Powered by Reliance’s renewable energy assets
• Jio Fiber Integration: High-capacity connectivity linking Jamnagar to metros like Mumbai and Delhi
• Secure Data Environments: Designed for enterprise-grade governance and compliance

Strategic Impact

The Jamnagar region will serve as a launchpad for AI-first services across sectors including:

• Retail, telecom, energy, and financial services
• Startups, SMBs, and public sector organizations
• Developers and researchers building India-centric AI solutions

This initiative complements Reliance’s newly launched Reliance Intelligence, a wholly owned subsidiary focused on building consumer and enterprise-grade AI products.

National Significance

The announcement aligns with India’s broader push for sovereign AI infrastructure under the ₹10,370 crore IndiaAI Mission. By localizing compute power and enabling scalable AI deployment, the Jamnagar region positions India as a serious contender in the global AI race.

What’s Next

The cloud region is expected to go live in early 2026, with pilot deployments already underway in Reliance’s retail and telecom verticals. Analysts view this as a strategic convergence of infrastructure, innovation, and national ambition — one that could redefine India’s digital economy.

Can India’s Power Infrastructure Keep Up with Its Digital Ambitions?

India’s data center industry is experiencing an unprecedented growth trajectory, driven by rapid digitalization, the rollout of 5G networks, AI adoption, and increasing cloud demand. Industry forecasts estimate that the country’s data center capacity will rise from around 1.4 gigawatts today to over 9 gigawatts by 2030. This surge translates into data centers potentially consuming roughly 3% of India’s total electricity by that year, up from less than 1% currently. Expanding hyperscale and colocation facilities in metros like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Delhi, alongside rising secondary hubs in tier 2 and 3 cities, underline the vast scale and geographic diversification of this growth.

Power Infrastructure Challenges Unique to the Digital Era

Vikas Srivastava, Director-Product Management, Product Development/Engineering, Vertiv

Data centers require uninterrupted, high-quality power that traditional grids, especially beyond metropolitan areas, often struggle to provide. Frequent outages, voltage instability, and limited grid capacity plague many emerging digital hubs in smaller cities and rural areas. Moreover, the scale of power demand from mega data centers rivals that of large industrial operations, placing additional strain on local utilities and transmission infrastructures. Maintaining uptime for critical digital services requires a fundamental rethink of power supply, distribution, and resilience strategies tailored to these demanding environments.

Decentralized, Intelligent Power Ecosystems as the Future

To address these challenges, the industry should pivot toward self-sustained power ecosystems. This entails integrating microgrids, hybrid energy sources including renewables augmented by battery energy storage systems, and real-time power optimization technologies. Decentralized power distribution architectures reduce dependency on unstable grids, enabling edge locations such as rural data nodes, telecom towers, and smart factories to operate autonomously with high reliability. Intelligent infrastructure monitoring and AI-driven energy management can further optimize load distribution, predictive maintenance, and increase energy efficiency across interconnected digital sites.

Sustainability and Policy Enablement

India’s ambitious renewable energy targets aim for 500 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2030, and government incentives such as data center policies and production-linked incentives are catalyzing the integration of green power into digital infrastructure. Operators are increasingly leveraging rooftop solar, wind power, and advanced cooling technologies to reduce carbon footprints. Notably, energy storage initiatives backed by viability gap funding have accelerated battery storage adoption, crucial for bridging supply-demand gaps and mitigating renewables’ intermittency.

Strategic Enterprise Investment and Advanced Solutions

While policy frameworks set the stage, private sector leadership is paramount. Investors and operators are scaling infrastructure with modular, scalable power units capable of operating in extreme ambient conditions prevalent across India. Technologies such as high-efficiency uninterruptible power supplies, AI-based monitoring platforms, and hybrid grid-storage combinations ensure consistent power quality and resilience. These advancements also embrace operational flexibility, allowing data centers to dynamically adjust to fluctuations in demand and supply, reducing total cost of ownership and sustainability risk.

The symbiotic growth of India’s digital economy and power infrastructure faces complex challenges requiring innovative, integrated approaches. Developing decentralized, intelligent, and green power systems tailored to the evolving needs of data centers, supported by proactive investment and enabling policies, will be critical. Successfully navigating these challenges will ensure India’s digital ecosystems remain robust and adaptive, securing its place as a global technology powerhouse in the decade ahead.

Reference Links:

• https://www.jll.com/en-in/insights/market-dynamics/india-data-centers
• https://ieefa.org/resources/indias-power-hungry-data-centre-sector-crossroads
• https://www.jll.com/en-in/newsroom/indias-data-centre-capacity-to-reach-18-gw-by-2027

Top Contenders for India’s Largest Data Centre

India is rapidly emerging as a global hub for hyperscale data centres, driven by surging demand for cloud services, AI workloads, and digital infrastructure. With tech giants like Google, Reliance, and AdaniConneX announcing multi-billion-dollar investments, the country is witnessing an unprecedented expansion in data centre capacity. Strategic locations such as Visakhapatnam, Jamnagar, and Navi Mumbai are attracting large-scale projects, while Tier-II cities like Pune and GIFT City are gaining traction for edge computing.

This evolving landscape reflects India’s ambition to become a digital powerhouse, backed by renewable energy integration, submarine cable upgrades, and state-level incentives. 

List of Major Data Centre Projects in India

Company	Location	Capacity (MW/GW)	Investment	Status	Highlights
Google	Visakhapatnam, AP	1 GW	₹51,000 crore	Confirmed	Asia’s largest by investment; $2B for renewables
Reliance Industries	Jamnagar, Gujarat	3 GW (planned)	₹1.6–2.4 lakh crore	Announced	Aims to be world’s largest; AI-focused with Nvidia
Sify Technologies	Andhra Pradesh	550 MW	Not disclosed	Publicly announced	Part of AP’s 6 GW roadmap
CtrlS	Mumbai, Hyderabad, Noida	~200 MW+	Ongoing	Operational	Largest Tier-4 certified DC in Asia
NTT Global Data Centers	Navi Mumbai, Chennai	~100 MW+	$2B+ (India-wide)	Operational & expanding	Multiple hyperscale facilities
STT GDC India	Pune, Bengaluru, Noida	~200 MW+	$500M+	Operational & expanding	Backed by Singapore’s ST Telemedia
AdaniConneX	Chennai, Noida, Hyderabad	1 GW (target)	$1B+	Under development	JV with EdgeConneX; hyperscale + edge DCs
Yotta Infrastructure	Navi Mumbai, GIFT City	~100 MW+	₹7,000 crore+	Operational & expanding	India’s largest Tier-IV DC at NM1
Web Werks – Iron Mountain	Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru	~50 MW+	$150M+	Operational & expanding	Colocation and enterprise clients

India’s Data Centre Landscape: Key Trends

• Andhra Pradesh is emerging as a strategic hub, with 6 GW planned capacity and new cable landing stations in Visakhapatnam.
• Mumbai remains the largest operational hub, with 289 MW capacity and 44% market share.
• Green energy integration is a major theme, especially for hyperscale projects like Google’s and AdaniConneX’s.
• Tier-II cities like Pune, GIFT City, and Noida are seeing rapid growth due to edge computing and 5G rollout.

Google Commits $6 Bn to Build Asia’s Largest Data Centre in India

Google is making a landmark investment of $6 billion to build a 1-gigawatt hyperscale data centre in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, marking its largest such project in Asia and its first of this scale in India.

Key Highlights

• Location: Port city of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
• Capacity: 1 GW (gigawatt) data centre — largest in Asia by size and investment
• Renewable Energy: $2 billion earmarked for green energy infrastructure to power the facility
• Strategic Goal: Supports Andhra Pradesh’s ambition to build 6 GW of data centre capacity over five years, up from nearly zero today
• Cable Infrastructure: Plans for three new cable landing stations in Visakhapatnam to double Mumbai’s current network capacity
• Global Context: Part of Alphabet’s broader $75 billion global data centre expansion, including projects in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand

Sustainability Meets Scale

While the facility will be primarily powered by renewable energy, some coal-based capacity may be included to ensure 24/7 reliability. Andhra Pradesh anticipates 10 GW of additional power demand from the data centre industry in the next five years.

Strategic Implications

This move positions India — and Andhra Pradesh specifically — as a rising hub in the global digital infrastructure race. It also reflects Google’s confidence in India’s long-term tech ecosystem, despite global economic uncertainties.

Tata Communications, AWS Unveil One of India’s Largest AI-Optimized Network Deployments

Tata Communications, a leading global communications technology player, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), an Amazon.com, Inc. company, announced that the companies will enable an advanced AI-ready network in India. The strategic collaboration will establish a high-capacity, resilient long-distance network connecting three major AWS infrastructure locations to bolster generative AI adoption and cloud innovation in India.

The collaboration marks one of the India’s largest ever network deployments by Tata Communications in terms of size, scale and bandwidth. AWS has two data centre Regions in India located in Mumbai and Hyderabad, and AWS Direct Connect and AWS Edge Network infrastructure in Chennai. The network will connect AWS infrastructure in Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai through a comprehensive, national long-haul network, creating a powerful infrastructure backbone for AI and machine learning (ML) workloads across India.

Key highlights of the partnership:

• Next-Generation Network Connectivity: Leverage Tata Communications’ state-of-the-art network to provide high-bandwidth, low-latency connections essential for AI workloads.​ AWS will continue to deploy its custom network technologies on this network, enabling industry-leading security, availability, and performance between AWS locations
• Enablement of AI-Powered Applications: Further enable businesses across India to build, train, and deploy scalable AI applications, fostering innovation in sectors like healthcare, finance, and education​
• Commitment to Security and Compliance: Ensure robust security measures and adhere to regulatory standards to protect data integrity and privacy

The new network will help provide leading network performance and scalability that are critical for next-generation AI applications. By leveraging Tata Communications state-of-the-art network, AWS will further empower Indian businesses to develop Gen AI applications and train AI models, with unprecedented speed and efficiency. The network will feature express routes with ultra-low latency, helping ensure seamless data transfer and processing capabilities essential for compute-intensive AI and ML workloads.

“This association marks our largest ever National Long-Distance program and showcases Tata Communications’ unparalleled capability to support large-capacity, complex projects requiring scaled network solutions,” said Genius Wong, Executive Vice President, Core and Next-Gen Connectivity Services and Chief Technology Officer, Tata Communications. “AI is transforming industries globally, and our collaboration with AWS positions us at the forefront of this revolution in India. Together, we’re enabling a network that not only meets the current demands but anticipates the needs of tomorrow. By building a tailored network solution we’re ushering in an AI era in India, reinforcing our position as the long-term partner of choice for global technology leaders.”

“We are excited to work with Tata Communications to establish an advanced in-country network in India,” said Jesse Dougherty, Vice President for Network Edge Services at Amazon Web Services. ” The infrastructure is designed to support the most data intensive workloads, like 5G, generative AI, and high-performance computing. This collaboration with Tata Communications will further enable our customers in India to innovate at scale with cloud and generative AI, and drive growth in India’s rapidly expanding digital economy.”

Madhya Pradesh Powers Up: 1GW AI-Ready Data Centre Ecosystem in the Works

Madhya Pradesh is making a bold move to become a major player in global digital infrastructure by developing a 1 gigawatt AI-ready data centre ecosystem, reported Times of India. Here's a breakdown of the initiative:

Strategic Partnership

MoU Signed: Between Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSEDC) and Spain-based Submer Technologies, a leader in immersion cooling and AI infrastructure.

Location: Agreement signed during the Invest in Madhya Pradesh Business Forum in Barcelona, Spain.

During the visit to Spain today, the headquarters of Submer, located in Barcelona, was visited.

This company, which specializes in data center cooling technology, held positive discussions regarding potential investment and strategic partnership in Madhya Pradesh.

Such… pic.twitter.com/FuSlY02wm7

— Dr Mohan Yadav (@DrMohanYadav51) July 17, 2025

Vision & Goals

Eco-Friendly Design: Data centres will use advanced cooling technologies to reduce power consumption, water usage, and environmental impact.

AI Optimization: Infrastructure will be tailored for high-efficiency AI workloads.

Green Digital Transition: Aligns with MP’s goal to lead India’s climate-conscious tech transformation.

Government Support

• Land Allocation and Regulatory Clearances: Provided by the MP government.
• Incentives: Includes capital expenditure assistance, power tariff reimbursements, and electricity duty exemptions.
• Employment & Innovation: Expected to generate local jobs, skill development, and R&D opportunities.

Why MP?

• Existing Data Centres: Already operational in Bhopal and Gwalior.
• Geographic Advantage: Cities like Indore and Raipur offer low latency and affordable power.
• Investor Confidence: Attributed to stable governance and streamlined procedures.

What’s Next?

A delegation from Submer Technologies will visit Madhya Pradesh later this month to scout potential sites and engage with local stakeholders.

Granthik Acquisition Sets the Stage for AdaniConneX’s AI-Ready Future

AdaniConneX, the strategic joint venture between Adani Enterprises and EdgeConneX, has taken another decisive step in expanding its digital infrastructure footprint by acquiring Granthik Realtors Pvt Ltd for ₹85.99 crore. Executed on June 26, 2025, through a share purchase agreement with Windson Projects LLP and its nominees, the acquisition highlights AdaniConneX’s focus on fast-tracking data center development across India.

Though Granthik Realtors is not yet operational, it possesses significant land holdings and the requisite regulatory clearances—making it a valuable asset in AdaniConneX’s mission to build a 1GW data center platform by 2030. This move allows the joint venture to bypass the usual bureaucratic hurdles of land acquisition and licensing, significantly accelerating project timelines for infrastructure development.

This isn’t AdaniConneX’s first such acquisition. In May 2024, the company acquired Terravista Developers—another strategic land-holding entity. While details on Terravista's holdings are limited, the pattern is clear: the company is focusing on acquiring land-rich firms that provide a springboard for rapid infrastructure deployment.

Such moves serve a dual purpose. First, they enable strategic land banking in urban hotspots like Chennai, Navi Mumbai, Noida, Hyderabad, and Vizag—future-proofing AdaniConneX’s ambitions amid India's digital transformation. Second, they reinforce vertical integration, giving AdaniConneX greater control over timelines, development standards, and alignment with sustainability goals.

With the broader Indian tech ecosystem gearing up for an era of AI-driven growth and cloud adoption, AdaniConneX’s acquisitions reflect a long-term play for digital sovereignty and hyperscale readiness. These quiet acquisitions may not dominate headlines, but they’re laying the groundwork for India’s next-generation digital backbone.

NTT DATA Accelerates India’s Digital Future with Multi Billion AI and Infrastructure Investments

• Expansion of AI innovation center and deployment of Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) to fast-track India’s technological leadership
• MIST submarine cable system to directly connect India, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand
• Launch of NTT DATA’s largest data center campus in India to power digital transformation

NTT DATA, a global digital business and technology services leader, today announced a series of strategic initiatives reinforcing its continued commitment to the Indian market. Among these, the company announced the commissioning of its Malaysia, India, Singapore Transit (MIST) submarine cable system by June 2025. MIST is an 8,100-kilometer cable that can carry over 200 terabits per second (Tbps). It is one of the largest cables in Asia, and will connect Malaysia, India, Singapore and Thailand.

It marks a milestone as NTT DATA’s first cable system to establish direct connectivity to and from India, enhancing global connectivity and adding critical infrastructure for the country’s rapidly growing digital economy. MIST was connected to NTT DATA’s Mumbai landing station in February 2023 and its Chennai landing station in May 2023.

NTT has been growing and investing in India for over a decade. Adding to that, NTT DATA has now opened its biggest data center campus in India, a facility that can hold over 500 MW of power, when fully operational. The company operates almost two-thirds of its data centers in India on renewable energy. It is committed to using 100% renewable energy by 2030 in all its data centers and operations. Featuring advanced infrastructure, including an underground tunnel for seamless connectivity and cooling technologies, the campus highlights safety, innovation and sustainability.

As the third-largest data center provider globally, and the largest in India, NTT DATA is scaling its global capacity from over 1,500 MW to exceed 2,000 MW. With significant growth in India, where it holds leading market share, it aims to add 400 MW more in the coming years. NTT DATA is the only data center service provider with over 200 MW of AI load already deployed worldwide. While the world is talking about being AI-ready, NTT DATA is AI-experienced.

NTT DATA also announced that it is upgrading and expanding its Innovation Centre in Bengaluru, India. The center will focus on AI, digital twin and quantum computing projects. With this, the company has 11 global innovation centers across 11 countries that will boost hiring of specialized talent to manage projects for global companies, driving AI-led technology solutions, particularly with agentic AI.

Dedicated to boosting connectivity, NTT’s Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN), a next-generation All-Photonics Network (APN) technology has been used to interconnect data centers in the Mumbai region, facilitating higher performance data transmission at lower costs. IOWN’s first information and communication processing infrastructure in India is in its early implementation stages. It aims to provide fast, high-capacity network access using photonics-based technologies. NTT is working hard to make this technology available to organizations globally by 2030, with an aim to support the growing AI driven global data volume which is likely to reach a capacity of 175 zettabytes by 2025 - nearly triple from 2020 to 2025, as per IDC’s ‘Data Age 2025’ paper. It elaborates - if we were to store 175 zettabytes on DVDs, the stack of DVDs would be long enough to circle Earth 222 times.

“India is key in our global strategy, fuelled by its rapid economic and digital expansion. We’re proud to say that NTT DATA has powered the IT infrastructure in India and globally, notably in data center capacity. Currently, India is one of our top 10 revenue-generating markets,” said Akira Shimada, President and CEO, NTT. “We are investing 8 trillion Yen (US$59 billion*) globally over 5 years from FY2023 to FY2027 into growth areas, including data centers and AI. We are committed to delivering our integrated full-stack proposition to our clients across Data Centers, Network, Applications, BPaaS, Managed Services, Cloud, Security, and AI solutions.”

"We are proud to accelerate India's digital future with the commissioning of MIST—the latest milestone in strengthening global digital highways that connect new markets and power AI innovation. Our MIST cable landing at the Gateway of India, Mumbai truly serves as India's gateway to the world," said Abhijit Dubey, CEO, NTT DATA, Inc. “Our USD 3 billion investment in India's digital infrastructure over the last decade reflects our confidence in the region's exceptional talent and robust tech ecosystem. We remain committed to expanding our presence and strategic investments in the country that will elevate India to one of our top five markets within the next three years."

“The Indian economy is currently in a growth phase both as a top market and a hub of innovation, talent and opportunity,” said Avinash Joshi, CEO, India, NTT DATA. “Over the years we have grown through acquisitions and currently have 3000 clients in India. We will continue to build on this momentum to drive transformation across key industries such as banking, manufacturing and automotive. We are witnessing an era of evolutionary tech and are confident in our ability to robustly meet the demand in the areas of technology solutions, data centers, infrastructure management, and applications.”

*At the exchange rate of 1 USD = 135.2 JPY as of May 10, 2023, according to NTT's financial announcement date.

Blackstone To Invest $11 Billion In Data Centres In India

Blackstone Inc. is making a significant move by investing $11 billion in data centres across India. This investment aims to tap into the growing demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing services. Stephen Schwarzman, Blackstone's CEO, emphasized the importance of this investment in meeting the accelerating growth of AI.

This move aligns with India's increasing focus on digital infrastructure and the rapid advancements in AI and cloud computing. It's an exciting development that could have substantial implications for the tech landscape in India.

Blackstone's $11 billion investment in data centres in India will primarily focus on the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). This includes partnerships with the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and the City & Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO) to develop advanced data centres. The investment is part of a broader initiative to enhance digital infrastructure and support the growing demand for AI and cloud computing services.

Approximately $5 billion will be allocated to the Mumbai 3.0 project, which aims to develop the Karnala-Sai-Chirner New Town (KSC New Town). This project will expand Mumbai's capacity with new infrastructure, residential, and commercial spaces.

$6 billion will be invested in data centres and other infrastructure across the MMR. Blackstone, in partnership with Panchshil Realty, will develop these data centres under the Lumina CloudInfra brand.

This significant investment aligns with India's increasing focus on digital infrastructure and the rapid advancements in AI and cloud computing. It's an exciting development that could have substantial implications for the tech landscape in India.

Meta Planning New $200 Bn+ Data Center Campus for Its AI

Meta Platforms is reportedly in discussions to construct a new data center campus for its artificial intelligence projects, with potential costs exceeding $200 billion. The company is considering locations in Louisiana, Wyoming, or Texas, and senior leaders have already visited potential sites.

However, a Meta spokesperson has denied the report, stating that the company's data center plans and capital expenditures have already been disclosed and that anything beyond that is "pure speculation".

Last month, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced plans to spend up to $65 billion this year to expand the company's AI infrastructure. In comparison, Microsoft plans to invest about $80 billion in fiscal 2025 to develop data centers, while Amazon's 2025 spending is expected to be higher than the $75 billion estimated for 2024.

This potential investment by Meta is part of a larger trend where tech giants are making significant investments in data centers to meet future AI demands.

Meta is involved in various AI research projects, including advancements in machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing.

Meta's Data Centre in Louisiana (Richland Parish) is of $10 billion+ investment

Meta has a global network of data centers that support its technologies and services. Meta's data centers are located in various regions, including the United States, Europe, and Asia. Some notable locations include Prineville, Oregon, USA; Forest City, North Carolina, USA; Luleå, Sweden; Clonee, Ireland, and Singapore.

Meta has been developing state-of-the-art AI models for various applications, including natural language processing, computer vision, and recommendation systems. These models enhance user experiences across their platforms, like Facebook and Instagram.

Meta's AI Research (FAIR) lab is at the forefront of AI research, working on groundbreaking projects that push the boundaries of what's possible with AI. This includes advancements in machine learning algorithms, robotics, and ethical AI.

Meta's competitors including Apple and Microsoft is also planning to invest heavily in AI infrastructure. While, Microsoft is planning to invest around $80 billion in data centers for fiscal 2025, Apple announced a $500 billion investment in the United States over the next 4 years, with a primary focus on expanding its manufacturing footprint and improving research and development.

Amazon has stated that it has invested over $75 billion in 2024. It would be interesting to see if Meta will set up the AI data center in the US or these are only speculations.

Blackstone, Panchshil to Set Up India’s Largest Hyperscale Data Centre (500 MW) With $2.41 Bn Investment

Blackstone Group and Panchshil Realty are collaborating to develop India's largest hyperscale data center in Navi Mumbai. This ambitious project will have a capacity of 500 MW and will be powered by up to 65% renewable energy. The data center will span 14 buildings, covering over 3 million square feet.

This marks a significant Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) following Blackstone's recent agreement with the Maharashtra government at Davos.

The Blackstone-Panchshil data center will be located in Navi Mumbai, specifically in the Ghansoli area, adjacent to Reliance Corporate Park. It will span 14 buildings, covering over 3 million square feet.

The project involves an investment of over Rs 20,000 crore (approximately $2.41 billion USD). The data center will have a capacity of 500 MW, making it the largest hyperscale data center in India. Up to 65% of the data center's energy needs will be met through renewable sources, making it a significant step towards sustainable infrastructure.

Panchshil Realty's subsidiary, Gramercy Info Park, has acquired nearly 50 acres of land for Rs 900 crore, including consideration, levies, and charges.

The data center will cater to hyperscaler companies specializing in high-performance computing, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data-intensive applications. This project is poised to significantly enhance India's digital infrastructure and aligns with the country's growing demand for data storage and processing capabilities.

Interestingly, in January it was reported that Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Industries is planning to build the world's largest data centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The facility is expected to have a capacity of 3 GW, significantly surpassing the current largest data centre, Microsoft's 600-megawatt site in Virginia.

This Blackstone-Panchshil project marks the first significant FDI following Blackstone's recent agreement with the Maharashtra government at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Blackstone is making a significant move in the AI revolution by investing $25 billion in a data center empire. This initiative includes the $10 billion acquisition of QTS in 2021, positioning Blackstone as a major player in the data center market. The expansion aims to meet the growing demand for computing power driven by advancements in AI.

However, this expansion comes with challenges, such as the enormous power requirements of these data centers, which could strain existing power grids and raise environmental concerns. Additionally, the economic impact of these data centers is unevenly distributed, leading to community divisions over the benefits and drawbacks of having vast industrial parks filled with computers.

L&T to Build Uzbekistan's 1st AI-enabled Data Centre

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has received a significant order to build Uzbekistan's first AI-enabled and sustainable 10-Megawatt data centre in Tashkent.

According to the company’s classification of projects, the value of the order is between ₹1,000 to ₹2,500 crores.

The project will set new standards for data centre infrastructure in the Uzbekistan region, combining cutting-edge technology with a strong commitment to sustainability.

L&T will be responsible for the engineering, procurement and construction of this new-age Data Centre equipped with advanced AI capabilities to power the next generation AI applications, minimise environmental impact and maximise energy efficiency. The data centre will be equipped with robust security measures to protect sensitive data using cutting-edge security technologies.

Commenting on this, Mr M V Satish, Member of Executive Committee & Advisor to the CMD, L&T, said: “It is indeed a matter of great pride that L&T Buildings & Factories vertical will be executing this AI-enabled and sustainable data centre in Tashkent. This underscores the expertise of L&T in executing complex and unique projects across the globe.”

Inspired by Hyderabad's Hitec City, Andhra Pradesh to Develop Data City Near Visakhapatnam

Andhra Pradesh is planning to build a 500-acre Data City near Visakhapatnam, modeled after Hyderabad's successful Hitec City. This ambitious project aims to establish a hub for data centers and artificial intelligence (AI).

The Data City will be developed in Madhurawada, near Visakhapatnam. Spanning 500 acres (about 2.02 million square meters), the project aims to create a comprehensive hub for global IT companies.

The concept of the Data City is credited to Nara Lokesh, the state's IT minister and son of current chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Lokesh drew inspiration from Hyderabad's successful Hitec City model, which attracted global tech giants like Microsoft. Interestingly, the Hitec City was also founded by N Chandrababu Naidu when he was CM of the united Andhra Pradesh in 1997. 

Google and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) have already shown interest, with Google signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 80 acres and TCS securing 30 acres for expansion. The project is expected to create 2 million jobs and boost the local economy.

Last October, TCS has announced plans to establish a significant IT hub in Visakhapatnam. This new facility is expected to create 10,000 jobs in the region. In 2023, IT giant Infosys also opened its state-of-the-art development center (DC) in Visakhapatnam, which is spread across 83,750 sq. ft. of area.

The Data City project is expected to generate 2 million jobs within 5 years, aligning with the Telugu Desam Party's election promise.

The success of the Data City hinges on securing a flagship player, similar to how Microsoft played a pivotal role in Hitec City.

By attracting major tech companies and fostering innovation, the Data City aims to boost the local economy and position Andhra Pradesh as a leading tech destination in India.

The state government plans to enhance the surrounding area with tourist attractions to further boost economic activity.

In addition to the Data City project, Andhra Pradesh is also developing a Drone City in Kurnool district. This initiative aims to train 35,000 drone pilots and promote the use of drones in various sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, and healthcare.

Reliance Buys Advance NVIDIA AI Chips for World's Largest Data Centre - Report

According to a Bloomberg report, Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries is planning to build what could become the world's largest data centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The facility is expected to have a capacity of 3 GW, significantly surpassing the current largest data centre, Microsoft's 600-megawatt site in Virginia. The project could cost between $20 billion and $30 billion.

Reliance Industries Limited is procuring advanced AI semiconductors from Nvidia to support this ambitious project. These high-performance chips are essential for complex computations required by AI-driven tools.

The data centre will be powered primarily by renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and hydrogen power. This initiative aligns with Reliance's strategy to boost India's AI capabilities and make AI more affordable and accessible.

This ambitious project aims to significantly boost India's artificial intelligence capabilities.

The facility is expected to have a total capacity of 3 GW, which is three times larger than the largest existing data centres.

As of now, the largest data centre in the world is the China Telecom-Inner Mongolia Information Park in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China. This massive facility spans 10.7 million square feet and consumes 150 megawatts of power. It includes not only data storage and processing infrastructure but also contact centers, warehouses, offices, and housing quarters.

Cost and Investment

Building such a massive facility could require an investment of $20 to $30 billion. Reliance Industries has about $26 billion in cash reserves, but funding such a project would still be a challenge.

Ambani aims to lower the cost of AI inferencing, making AI more affordable and accessible to businesses and startups in India.

"AI inferencing" is the process by which a trained machine learning model applies its learned patterns to new, unseen data to make predictions or decisions. For example, an AI model trained to recognize spam emails can infer whether a new email is spam or not based on the patterns it learned during training.

AI inferencing requires significant computational power, often involving GPUs or specialized hardware like TPUs. The cost of using these resources can be substantial, especially for large-scale models.

For example, companies using NVIDIA's AI inference platform can achieve significant cost savings through optimized performance and energy efficiency. Similarly, startups like Pipeshift offer modular inference engines that can reduce GPU usage by up to 75%, leading to substantial cost savings.

This initiative aligns with Reliance's strategy to disrupt the market, similar to how Reliance Jio revolutionized the telecom sector by offering affordable services. The cost of using these resources can be substantial, especially for large-scale models.

This announcement comes within few days after the announcement of The Stargate Project, a massive artificial intelligence initiative, announced by OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX. The project aims to invest $500 billion over the next four years to build AI infrastructure in the United States. Masayoshi Son, the founder of SoftBank, will chair the project, while Sam Altman from OpenAI will manage operations..

SoftBank to Build Next-Gen Industrial Park with AI-based Data Center

SoftBank Corp. is planning to build a next-generation industrial park with an AI-based data center at Sharp Corp.'s former LCD panel plant in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture.

The data center will feature state-of-the-art graphics processing units (GPUs) from Nvidia for AI data processing. This will support SoftBank's own generative AI development and other AI-related businesses.

SoftBank plans to use clean energy sources to minimize the environmental impact of the data center. This will support SoftBank's own generative AI development and other AI-related businesses. 

Here are some key details:

Acquisition: SoftBank acquired the plant and surrounding facilities for ¥100 billion ($635 million) in December 2024.

Data Center: The data center will utilize over 20% of the plant's 600,000-square-meter total floor area. SoftBank plans to procure state-of-the-art graphics processing units from U.S. semiconductor giant Nvidia Corp. for AI data processing at the data center. The system will be available for use by companies in the industrial park.

Operations: Full-scale operations are expected to begin in 2025, with plans to increase the power capacity to over 400 megawatts in the future.

Purpose: The industrial park aims to foster innovation across various sectors, including manufacturing and pharmaceuticals, by providing companies access to advanced AI capabilities.

Environmental Impact: SoftBank plans to use clean energy sources to minimize the environmental impact of the data center.

SoftBank's President, Junichi Miyakawa, emphasized that this initiative is part of a broader strategy to revitalize industries using AI, especially in response to Japan's declining labor force.

It's an ambitious project with the potential to significantly impact regional economies and technological innovation. What do you think about this development? Comment below.

L&T-Cloudfiniti Onboards Its First Major Customer

L&T-Cloudfiniti, the Data Centre business initiative of Larsen & Toubro, has onboarded its first major customer at the state-of-the-art hyperscale data centre located in Sriperumbudur near Chennai.

Cloudfiniti’s Sriperumbudur Data Centre has a built-in capacity of 30 MW, and of this, 12 MW colocation-ready capacity is live across two floors. The client, a leading cloud service provider has rented as much as 6 MW IT Load capacity, consisting of high-density racks spread over an entire floor, and a bulk bandwidth, thus marking a major customer-win for Cloudfiniti at the very start.

The contract tenure, which is 10 years, underscores the trust the client has reposed on Cloudfiniti’s high-tech capabilities, cutting-edge infrastructure, and the strategic location of the data centre.

“This deal marks the beginning of many such collaborations and acts a testament to our commitment to delivering world-class colocation and cloud services to businesses across the spectrum. In the days to come, we are confident of redefining India’s data centre landscape with our fast scalable and reliable solutions,” said Seema Ambastha, Chief Executive – L&T-Cloudfiniti.

Amazon Acquires ~ $54 Mn Land Near Mumbai for Hyperscale Data Centre

Amazon India has recently acquired a 38.18-acre land parcel in Palava, near Mumbai, from the Lodha Group (Macrotech Developers) for over INR 450 crore (approximately $54 million), reported Economic Times citing documents accessed through realty data analytics firm Propstack.

This land will be used to develop a hyperscale data centre, which is part of Amazon's broader commitment to enhancing India's digital infrastructure.

As part of the deal, Amazon Data Services India will also get access to the already sanctioned floor space index—permissible development potential—of around 4.16 million sq ft.

Key Details:

• Land Size: 38.18 acres
• Location: Palava, near Mumbai
• Cost: Over INR 450 crore
• Development Potential: Approximately 4.16 million sq ft of floor space index (FSI). 

This acquisition underscores Amazon's commitment to India's digital transformation and its plans to invest $12.7 billion in cloud infrastructure by 2030.

The development of this data centre will support the growing demand for reliable data storage and processing capabilities in India, benefiting various sectors such as payments, gaming, and emerging technologies like the Metaverse.

Amazon India has been actively expanding its data centre infrastructure across the country. Last year, Amazon Data Services India leased a 4-acre land parcel in Powai from Larsen & Toubro (L&T) through an 18-year lease, committing to INR 562 crore in rental payments.

In 2022, Amazon acquired a 54-acre land parcel in Thane for INR 1,870 crore to develop another hyperscale data centre. Amazon also signed an agreement to lease an additional 5.5-acre land parcel adjacent to the Powai site for INR 921 crore over 21.5 years.

Prior to these acquisitions, Amazon leased a commercial tower with a built-up area of 451,000 sq ft in Thane through a long-term sublease of over 15 years.

These investments are part of Amazon's broader commitment to India's digital transformation and supporting the growing digital economy.

Work on Indian Coast Guard’s 1st Full-Fledged Data Center Started in Delhi's Mahipalpur

The Indian Coast Guard has embarked on a significant digital transformation project with the construction of its first full-fledged data center in Mahipalpur, New Delhi. The project is valued at Rs 588 crore (approximately $70 million).

The data center is expected to be completed within two years.

This will be the first full-fledged data center for the Indian Coast Guard. The success of this project may pave the way for similar initiatives in other branches of India's defense forces, such as the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army.

The initiative is expected to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of decision-making within the Indian Coast Guard.

The project is be executed by Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL), in collaboration with Yotta Infrastructure and Attero, a software solution company.

The data center will be built to Tier III standards, ensuring high reliability and security parameters, including a disaster recovery site.

The data center will integrate an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, connecting the Coast Guard's 109 offices and 88 ships. The data center aims to automate internal processes, including finance, HR, and operational modules.

This project is a major step towards modernizing the Indian Coast Guard's operations and enhancing their digital capabilities.