Equinix Launches First AI Data Center in Chennai to Fuel India’s Growth
▼ Summary
– Equinix has launched its first AI-ready data center (CN1) in Chennai to support digital transformation and AI innovation in India.
– The CN1 facility is interconnected with three existing Mumbai data centers and launched with 800 cabinets, with a planned expansion to 4,250 cabinets.
– The data center is engineered for 99.999% uptime and features liquid cooling technology to support high-density AI workloads.
– This expansion aligns with Tamil Nadu’s and India’s national ambitions to become leaders in advanced technologies like AI and quantum computing.
– CN1 provides Chennai-based enterprises with low-latency access to major cloud providers via Equinix’s interconnection platform.
Strategically expanding its digital infrastructure footprint, Equinix has officially opened its first AI-ready data center in Chennai, a major development poised to accelerate India’s technological ambitions. This new International Business Exchange (IBX) facility, designated CN1, is engineered to bolster digital transformation and provide the robust, resilient foundation required for AI-driven innovation and business growth across the region.
Located in Siruseri, the CN1 data center is directly linked to Equinix’s three existing IBX facilities in Mumbai, establishing a powerful and interconnected digital backbone for enterprises. The initial phase of the project represents a significant investment of US$69 million, launching with a capacity of 800 cabinets. Future expansion plans are ambitious, aiming to scale up to 4,250 cabinets to meet growing demand. Although the specific IT load capacity remains undisclosed, the facility is built for exceptional reliability, targeting an impressive 99.999% uptime.
A key feature of the CN1 center is its integration of Equinix’s full suite of interconnection services, such as Equinix Fabric, which facilitates seamless hybrid multicloud deployments. Furthermore, the facility is equipped with advanced liquid cooling technology, a critical capability for managing the intense power and thermal demands of high-performance computing workloads essential for artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies. This positions Chennai as an increasingly vital hub for research and technological investment, aligning with the state of Tamil Nadu’s push to become a leader in innovation and India’s broader national strategy to excel in advanced fields like AI, quantum computing, and edge computing.
The launch of CN1 offers a substantial advantage to local businesses by providing them with low-latency access to the cloud-rich ecosystem available at Equinix’s Mumbai campus. This connectivity includes direct on-ramps to major global cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Oracle Cloud, ensuring secure and efficient data exchange for companies, their customers, and their partners. Manoj Paul, Managing Director for India at Equinix, emphasized the strategic value, stating, “CN1 enables customers in Chennai to connect into a dynamic digital ecosystem, giving them secure and low-latency access to partners and providers that are critical to their growth.”
(Source: MEA Tech Watch)
