Meta’s First AI Data Centre in India
India is quickly becoming a key destination for global technology companies investing in artificial intelligence. The latest example is Meta’s partnership with Reliance Industries to build an AI-enabled data centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
The facility will have an initial capacity of 168 megawatts (MW) and is expected to support Meta’s growing AI computing requirements. Once operational, it could rank among the largest AI-focused data centres in Asia.
Under the agreement, Reliance will build and operate the facility, while Meta will use the infrastructure to power its AI workloads and services.
What Makes the Jamnagar Data Centre Important?
The project is more than just another data centre. It represents a shift in how global technology companies view India.
For years, large AI infrastructure projects were concentrated in the United States, Europe, and parts of East Asia. Meta’s decision to establish its first AI data centre in India signals growing confidence in the country’s digital infrastructure, renewable energy ecosystem, and long-term growth potential.
The facility is expected to be completed within the next two years, with the possibility of expanding capacity in the future.
Why Jamnagar Was Chosen
Jamnagar offers several advantages for a project of this scale.
Strong Connectivity
The city is located close to major submarine cable landing points on India’s western coast. This allows faster international data transfer and lower network latency, which is essential for AI applications.
Access to Jio’s Network
Reliance can connect the facility to Jio’s nationwide fibre network, providing reliable connectivity across India.
Renewable Energy Availability
The data centre is expected to run entirely on renewable energy, helping Meta meet its sustainability goals while reducing dependence on traditional power sources.
Seawater-Based Cooling
One of the most interesting aspects of the project is its cooling system. Instead of relying on freshwater resources, the facility will use desalinated seawater for cooling.
Large AI data centres require significant cooling capacity, and this approach can reduce pressure on local freshwater supplies.
A Growing Meta-Reliance Partnership
The relationship between Meta and Reliance has been growing for several years.
In 2020, Meta invested $5.7 billion in Jio Platforms, acquiring a 9.99% stake in one of India’s largest digital businesses.
Since then, both companies have worked together across multiple digital initiatives.
According to reports, the partnership expanded further in 2025 through a joint venture focused on AI solutions for businesses in India and selected international markets.
The new Jamnagar data centre takes the relationship beyond software and digital services into large-scale physical infrastructure.
Why India Matters to Meta’s AI Strategy
Meta is investing heavily in AI infrastructure worldwide as demand for advanced AI models continues to grow.
The company has repeatedly stated its plans to increase computing capacity significantly over the coming years. Building and running AI systems requires enormous amounts of computing power, energy, networking, and storage infrastructure.
India plays a major role in that strategy.
The country is Meta’s largest market by user base across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. With more than a billion users across its platforms, India is not only a consumer market but also a key region for AI product development and testing.
As AI adoption grows across businesses and consumers, having infrastructure closer to users can improve performance, reliability, and scalability.
The Green Energy Backbone Behind the Project
Energy is one of the biggest challenges facing modern AI infrastructure.
Training and operating AI models requires vast amounts of electricity, making renewable energy a critical component of future data centre projects.
To support its sustainability goals, Meta has also announced renewable energy partnerships in India.
These agreements include large-scale solar and wind energy projects across multiple states, helping secure nearly one gigawatt of clean power capacity.
The focus on renewable energy aligns with a broader industry trend as technology companies look to balance AI growth with environmental responsibility.
India’s AI Infrastructure Race Is Accelerating
Meta and Reliance are not alone.
Several global technology companies are making large investments in India’s AI and cloud infrastructure sector.
Google is working on a major AI-focused project in Visakhapatnam through partnerships with AdaniConneX and Nxtra by Airtel.
Microsoft has announced multi-billion-dollar investments in cloud and AI infrastructure across India.
Amazon continues to expand its cloud presence through significant long-term investments.
OpenAI has also explored infrastructure opportunities through partnerships connected to large-scale AI deployment initiatives.
These developments highlight India’s growing importance as a global hub for data centres, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.
What This Means for India
The Jamnagar AI data centre India is another sign that India is becoming a serious player in the global technology ecosystem.
Several factors are driving this shift:
- A massive digital user base
- Expanding fibre and submarine cable connectivity
- Growing renewable energy capacity
- Competitive operating costs
- Government support for digital infrastructure
- Rising demand for AI services
For Reliance, the project strengthens its position as an infrastructure provider for next-generation technologies.
For Meta, it creates a foundation for long-term AI growth in one of its most important markets.
For India, it represents another step toward becoming a global centre for AI infrastructure and advanced computing.
Final Thoughts
The planned AI data centre in India (Jamnagar) is more than a construction project. It reflects a broader change in the global technology landscape, where India is increasingly becoming a preferred destination for AI investment.
If completed on schedule, the 168 MW facility could become one of the country’s most important AI infrastructure assets. And if demand continues to grow as expected, this may be only the beginning of a much larger expansion.
As global technology companies compete to build the infrastructure needed for the next generation of AI, India is steadily moving from a consumer market to a critical part of the world’s AI backbone.
