(June 10): Meta Platforms Inc is partnering with Reliance Industries Ltd to build its first AI data center in India, adding to a wave of investment in tech infrastructure globally.
As part of the deal, tycoon Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance will build a 168-megawatt data center in Jamnagar — where it also runs the world’s largest single-site oil refinery — that Facebook’s parent will lease, the companies said on Wednesday. The two companies didn’t offer more details on the project, which has an option to expand over time. Reliance’s shares gained as much as 2.5% before paring some gains.
India is attracting growing investment from major tech firms, including a combined US$52 billion from Amazon.com Inc and Microsoft Corp this year, underscoring the country’s rising status as a key growth market. Much of that is going into the infrastructure India urgently needs to develop and operate AI services, which will be key to fulfilling the government’s vision of building an industry to keep pace with the US and China.
In another major deal unveiled this year, OpenAI partnered with Indian conglomerate Tata Group to build a data center starting at 100MW of capacity, with plans to scale up to 1 gigawatt. At the upper end, a 1GW facility can cost between US$35 billion and US$50 billion.
The Meta-Reliance tie-up boosts a relationship that began around 2020 when the Menlo Park, California-headquartered firm made a US$5.7 billion investment in Jio Platforms, the tech and telecoms arm of the Indian conglomerate.
“This world-class facility in Jamnagar will help us scale our AI infrastructure globally while deepening our long-term investment in India’s economy,” Meta chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg said in the statement.
See also: SoftBank’s attempt to get US$6 bil OpenAI margin loan stalls — Bloomberg
Separately, Meta will also contract 837MW of renewable energy through an agreement with Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions Ltd. The news sparked a more than 15% gain in Clean Max shares.
Uploaded by Evelyn Chan
