In the dynamic landscape of technology, data centers serve as the backbone of our digital infrastructure, ensuring seamless connectivity, storage, and processing power. As we step into 2024, data center providers are making waves with groundbreaking innovations, sustainability initiatives, and unprecedented growth. Here we shall delve into the top 10 data center providers that are taking bold strides, setting the stage for a future where efficiency, reliability, and environmental consciousness converge to redefine the benchmarks of the industry.
Adani Enterprises Ltd., led by billionaire Gautam Adani, is investing $1.5 billion in AdaniConneX, a collaboration between Adani Group and EdgeConneX, the world’s largest private data center operator. It is dedicated to advancing digital initiatives in India by establishing a 1 GW data center capacity in the coming decade. As a provider of eco-friendly data centers, AdaniConneX is committed to sourcing its energy needs exclusively from sustainable, renewable sources, with the goal of achieving a carbon-neutral impact. The venture, poised to receive a $400 million offshore loan, plans to establish data centers in Telangana, New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. Adani Group’s commitment to data centers is a testament to the industry’s potential and the pivotal role it plays in digital infrastructure.
CapitaLand India Trust (CLINT) is in the process of constructing four cutting-edge data centers in key Indian markets – Navi Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bangalore. As of the second quarter of 2023, construction is underway for the data centers in Navi Mumbai and Hyderabad. Upon completion, these state-of-the-art facilities will collectively provide a total power capacity of 244 MW. CLINT recently secured a substantial construction loan of Rs 1,300 crore ($155.9 million) from J.P. Morgan India for its Navi Mumbai data center development. The data centers prioritize sustainability through the incorporation of eco-friendly design principles and adherence to green building standards.
CtrlS Datacenters Ltd. is Asia’s largest Rated-4 hyperscale datacenter, possessing an operational footprint of 1.2 Mn Sq.ft and 5 Mn Sq.ft data center facilities under construction. It currently operates data centers in the Indian cities of Mumbai, Bangalore, Noida, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Patna. CtrlS is set to invest ₹250 crore in a greenfield Edge datacenter in Uttarakhand over the next 8-10 years. The proposed Rated-4 datacenter will offer colocation, managed services, and cloud services, supporting Industry 4.0 and latency-dependent applications.
Reliance Industries Ltd. entered into a partnership with Brookfield Infrastructure Partners and Digital Realty Trust to form a joint venture known as ‘Digital Connexion’ for developing data centers in Chennai and Mumbai. Data centers will capitalize on the energy-efficient data center platform design and operational protocols provided by Digital Realty. Additionally, they will benefit from Brookfield’s extensive understanding of the Indian infrastructure market and leverage Jio’s robust digital and connectivity ecosystem. Digital Connexion recently unveiled its inaugural data center in India, situated on a 10-acre campus in Chennai’s industrial and manufacturing hub. This state-of-the-art facility has the capacity to support up to 100 megawatts of critical IT load, marking a significant expansion of Digital Realty’s global data center platform.
In 2023, Equinix unveiled its digital interconnection services in India, featuring advanced offerings such as Equinix Fabric, Equinix Internet Exchange, and Equinix Internet Access. These cutting-edge services are designed to empower digital leaders in India, enabling them to construct secure and agile digital infrastructures tailored to the dynamic business landscape and fostering global data center-to-data center network connections with software-defined interconnection. Equinix currently operates 2 data centers in Mumbai which are linked by dark fiber, creating a virtual campus that provides diverse opportunities for enterprises embracing a hybrid multicloud strategy to establish enterprise edge nodes. Recognizing the escalating need for colocation space in India, Equinix plans to inaugurate two additional data centers in Mumbai by the conclusion of 2024.
Google has secured a 381,000 sq ft data center in Navi Mumbai through a long-term lease lasting over 28 years. The eight-story facility, set to be completed by 2025, is located in Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation’s industrial estate. This expansion aligns with Google’s existing operations in two Indian GCP cloud regions, with Mumbai and Delhi launched in 2017 and 2021, respectively.
Sify raised funds for new data centers, partnering with Kotak Data Center Fund to invest up to Rs 6 billion ($73 million) in Sify Infinit Spaces Limited, its wholly-owned subsidiary operating data centers. This infusion of capital positions Sify to expand its data center infrastructure, catering to the growing demand for reliable and secure digital solutions. Sify operates data centers in Mumbai, Noida, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kokata and plans to add over 350 MW by 2025.
ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) offers comprehensive data center solutions are crafted to enable enterprises to swiftly adapt to changes and meet the continually expanding requirements of their businesses. With a presence in nine cities across India, STT GDC owns and operates 27 data centers, collectively supporting over 280MW of IT load. STT GDC recently partnered with O2 Power to procure renewable energy for its Bangalore facility in Karnataka, aligning with sustainability goals. This commitment to renewable energy showcases the industry’s awareness and dedication to reducing its environmental footprint. At present, STT GDC India sources 36% of the energy for its facilities from renewable sources.
Web Werks Data Centers has been a leading presence in India for the past two decades with facilities featuring high-density, hyper-scale, and artificial intelligence-powered infrastructure, providing top-notch service support and uptime. With plans to establish new data centers across India, Web Werks aims to ensure that their clients achieve optimal business efficiency by effortlessly addressing all concerns related to their data center needs. The company has acquired a four-acre land parcel in Chennai for the construction of two new data centers, aiming to meet the increasing demand in the region. An investment of over Rs 1,800 crore is allocated for this project, with an expected commissioning date set for mid-2025. Additionally, Web Werks has strategically partnered with Supertron Electronics to boost enterprise sales, designating them as the Value-Added Distributor (VAD) for Web Werks.
Yotta Data Services, backed by the Hiranandani Group, specializes in the design, construction, and operation of infinitely scalable Data Center Parks. Spanning over 50 acres, their Data Center Parks will feature 11 buildings with flexible options, ranging from a single rack to an entire building, or even a customized data center. This offering is complemented by a diverse range of managed services. Currently, Yotta has two operational data centers: Yotta NM1 in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, and Yotta D1 in Greater Noida, Delhi-NCR. Furthermore, the company is actively developing a network of data center parks in various Indian cities, including Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, and Gujarat. Yotta recently unveiled expansions in Greater Noida and Guwahati, catering to the evolving demand for edge facilities and reinforcing its position in Tier II markets.
