New Delhi: Global digital services and technology leader NTT DATA has announced a series of major initiatives aimed at accelerating India’s digital and infrastructure growth.
The company is set to commission the Malaysia-India-Singapore-Thailand (MIST) submarine cable system by June 2025, launch its largest data centre campus in the country, and expand its Bengaluru-based AI Innovation Centre.
MIST, an 8,100-kilometer undersea cable system, will establish direct connectivity between India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, carrying over 200 terabits per second (Tbps) of data.
This marks a significant step in boosting India’s digital infrastructure, providing high-speed, reliable connectivity to support the country’s expanding digital economy. The cable system was connected to NTT DATA’s Mumbai landing station in February 2023 and its Chennai station in May 2023.
It should be noted that while the centre and the state governments, through several initiatives, are trying to strengthen the country’s position in the global digital economy, private entities like NTT DATA’s investment decisions are expected to play a crucial role in enhancing connectivity, AI capabilities and data centre infrastructure.
Expansion of Data Center Capacity
NTT DATA has also inaugurated its largest data centre campus in India, a facility capable of scaling up to 500 MW of power.
Notably, two-thirds of its data centres in India already run on renewable energy, with a commitment to achieving 100 per cent renewable operations by 2030.
The new campus features advanced cooling technologies and underground tunnel infrastructure, reinforcing the company’s focus on security, efficiency and sustainability.
As the world’s third-largest data centre provider—and India’s leading player—NTT DATA is expanding its global data centre capacity from 1,500 MW to over 2,000 MW, with an additional 400 MW planned for India alone.
The company also holds a significant AI computing capacity, with over 200 MW of AI workloads already deployed worldwide.
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Investment in AI and Next-Gen Networking
In a move to further strengthen India’s role in AI innovation, NTT DATA is expanding its Innovation Centre in Bengaluru.
The centre will focus on advanced AI technologies, digital twin applications, and quantum computing. With 11 global innovation centres operating across different countries, the company is ramping up efforts to hire specialized talent to develop AI-driven solutions, particularly in agentic AI.
Additionally, NTT DATA is advancing its Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) technology in India. This next-generation All-Photonics Network (APN) has begun interconnecting data centres in Mumbai, delivering high-speed, high-capacity data transmission.
The company plans to globally deploy IOWN by 2030 to support the exponential growth in AI-driven data consumption, projected to reach 175 zettabytes by 2025, according to IDC’s ‘Data Age 2025’ report.
Strategic Vision for India
“India plays a crucial role in our global strategy, driven by its rapid economic and digital expansion,” said Akira Shimada, President and CEO of NTT. “We are investing eight trillion yen (approximately $59 billion) globally over five years in areas such as AI, data centres, and cloud solutions. India is one of our top 10 revenue-generating markets, and we are committed to further strengthening our footprint.”
Echoing this commitment, Abhijit Dubey, CEO of NTT DATA, Inc., said, “The commissioning of the MIST cable is a key milestone in fortifying global digital highways that link new markets and fuel AI-driven innovations. With a $3 billion investment in India’s digital infrastructure over the past decade, we aim to make India one of our top five markets in the next three years.”
Avinash Joshi, CEO of NTT DATA India, emphasized India’s role as a technology and innovation hub. “We have grown through strategic acquisitions and now serve 3,000 clients in India across industries such as banking, manufacturing, and automotive. The demand for cutting-edge tech solutions, data centres, and AI applications is increasing, and we are well-positioned to drive this transformation.”
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