Global digital infrastructure company Equinix is investing USD 42 million in its fourth data centre (IBX) in Mumbai, MB4, to support India's booming digital economy. This move is aimed at meeting the increasing demand for data centres and interconnection services in the country, serving local and overseas businesses to expand their digital capabilities.
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Enhancing Connectivity and Capacity
According to Equinix, MB4 will provide expanded connectivity options to major telecom networks, along with Metro Connect availability to Equinix's other data centre sites, MB1 and MB2. The first phase of MB4, expected to open in Q4 2023, will offer an initial capacity of 350 cabinets, with plans to expand to 700 cabinets in the future.
Positioning for Digitalisation
Mumbai has two Equinix-owned IBX data centres - MB1 and MB2 offering access to major cloud service providers, including Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Oracle Cloud and five internet exchanges.
Industry Growth
Equinix says this investment aligns with India's ambitious digitalization goals. The Equinix Global Tech Trends Survey 2023 highlights that 85 percent of Indian IT leaders plan to increase spending on interconnection in the coming year.
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According to commercial real estate and investment management company JLL, the Indian data centre industry reached 637 MW as of H1 2022 and is expected to reach 1,318 MW by 2024.
Supporting Digital Transformation
Equinix says its presence in India, with existing data centres MB1 and MB2 hosting global cloud providers and network services, positions it as a key player in supporting digital transformation journeys for businesses.
Strategic Expansion
Equinix revealed its intention to enter the Chennai market by acquiring 5.5 acres of land in March 2022. Additionally, Equinix announced plans to invest more than USD 86 million to construct its third data centre in Mumbai, named MB3, in June 2022.
Also Read: Equinix to Open Its First Data Center, KL1, in Kuala Lumpur in 2024
Equinix said its commitment to India's digital economy is further demonstrated by its plans to enter emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Malaysia and Indonesia as reported by TelecomTalk.
