Meta Partners with Reliance for Data Center in India, Boosting Local AI Infrastructure

Meta Platforms, Inc. has announced plans to lease a data center from Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, designed specifically for artificial intelligence operations with a capacity of 168 megawatts.

Reliance Industries, a diversified group with interests spanning petrochemicals, textiles, and mass media, will construct the facility for Meta, with delivery expected within two years and options for future expansion.

Meta Platforms, Inc. founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated that this world-class computing hub in Jamnagar will support the company's global AI infrastructure expansion and deepen its long-term commitment to the Indian economy.

The partnership between Meta and Reliance dates back to 2020, when Zuckerberg's company invested $5.7 billion in Ambani's telecom and digital platform, Jio Platforms.

Last year, the collaboration advanced further with the formation of a joint venture to offer Meta's open-source AI models to Indian businesses and developers.

Reliance Group Chairman Mukesh Ambani described Meta's latest investment as a milestone in the development of India's digital infrastructure.

Major global hyperscale cloud providers are increasingly focusing on India's data center market. Over the past year, approximately $400 billion has flowed into India's AI ecosystem, with the majority directed towards computing facilities and associated energy infrastructure.

A report from Nomura Securities on June 2 noted that India's data center industry is among the world's fastest-growing, highlighting the country's cost advantages over other developed markets in the Asia-Pacific and Western regions. The report projected India's total data center capacity could reach 7 gigawatts by 2030.

Earlier this year, the Indian government introduced a policy offering up to 20 years of tax exemptions for large cloud service providers using local data centers to serve global clients.

In a separate move, Meta has also entered into agreements with Indian clean energy firms CleanMax and Fourth Partner Energy to procure nearly 1 gigawatt of renewable energy capacity.

These renewable projects, located across various Indian states, will supply clean power to support Meta's expanding computing infrastructure in the country.

The parent company of Facebook stated that these investments align with its global objective of powering all operations with 100% renewable energy.