Meta Platforms is gearing up to launch its first-ever data center in India, choosing the Reliance Industries (RIL) complex in Chennai for this milestone, according to a report by The Economic Times that references informed sources.
The financial details of the project have not been made public. However, the initiative aims to locally handle the vast amounts of content generated by users of Meta’s leading applications, namely Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
This new data center is planned to occupy a 10-acre space within the MAA10 campus in Chennai’s Ambattur Industrial Estate. This site is a collaborative effort involving Brookfield Asset Management, Digital Realty, and RIL, equipped to support an impressive IT load of up to 100 MW.
The partnership between Meta and RIL came to fruition after discussions that took place around the time of Anant Ambani’s pre-wedding celebrations in Jamnagar. Anant Ambani is a member of the influential Ambani family.
Advantages of a Local Data Center for Users and Cost Reduction
Currently, Meta’s services for Indian users are managed through its Singapore center. The establishment of a local facility is expected to significantly enhance Meta’s service delivery in its biggest market by setting up four to five nodes at various locations across India. This strategy aims to speed up data processing and improve the overall user experience by ensuring quicker access to content. Moreover, it’s likely to cut down on the expenses related to data transmission from international data centers.
The local data center will also allow for better integration of domestic advertisements, promising a dual benefit of enriched user engagement and reduced data transmission costs, which is advantageous for both Meta and its Indian user base.
