In a landmark move that underscores India's burgeoning role in the global AI landscape, Meta has sealed its first data center partnership in the country with Reliance Industries. This collaboration will establish a cutting-edge 168-megawatt AI-enabled data center in Jamnagar, Gujarat, aimed at bolstering Meta's extensive global AI computing initiatives.
The announcement, made on Wednesday, comes in the wake of a deepening relationship between Meta and Reliance, which initially took root with a $5.7 billion investment in Jio Platforms back in 2020. Over the years, this partnership has expanded into a multifaceted alliance, including a $100 million joint venture focused on developing enterprise AI solutions for both Indian and international markets.
India's rapid ascent as a tech powerhouse has attracted significant investments from global giants seeking data center capabilities to meet soaring AI demands. Other major players, including Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and OpenAI, have similarly ramped up their infrastructure footprints in the country, recognizing its potential as a critical hub for advanced AI workloads.
Recent data illustrates this surge; India's data center capacity has soared from approximately 375 megawatts in 2020 to nearly 1.5 gigawatts in 2025. Projections suggest this capacity may exceed 8 gigawatts by the end of the decade, propelled by a vigorous increase in cloud adoption and local data processing requirements.
Notably, the deal with Reliance is designed not only to meet Meta's operational requirements but also to align with sustainable practices. The planned facility will be powered entirely by renewable energy and cooled with desalinated seawater, with Meta covering all associated costs for energy and water.
Reliance's commitment to providing end-to-end services—from design and construction to renewable energy supply and operations—positions it as a pivotal player in the burgeoning AI infrastructure sector. The company’s ambitions reflect a strategic vision to cater to the needs of leading tech firms eyeing the Indian market.
As this collaboration unfolds, further details regarding the specific types of AI workloads to be hosted at the new facility remain undisclosed. Both parties have yet to reveal whether additional AI infrastructure investments are on the horizon. Nevertheless, this partnership heralds a new era for AI capabilities in India, connecting local resources with Meta’s extensive global operations.
In a notable further step, Meta has also secured nearly 1 gigawatt of renewable energy capacity in India, partnering with CleanMax and Fourth Partner Energy to enhance the sustainability of its operations in the region.
As the competition for AI infrastructure intensifies, India is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of global AI technologies.
Source: TechCrunch
Source: TechCrunch
