2020 India Data Center Market Update
This report outlines the year-end review of industry’s latest trends and what to expect in 2021.
2020 was an unprecedented year for the Indian Colocation (Colo) Data Center industry. Our growing reliance on digital connectivity for working, learning and playing led to a sharp rise in data usage. As per Nokia Mobile Broadband India Traffic Index, overall data usage increased by 36% in 2020 due to increased use of smartphones and fixed wireless. This digital connectivity was primarily provided seamlessly by India’s 447 Megawatt (MW)* of Colo Data Center capacity and extensive telecom network.
In 2020, Indian Colo industry saw a record 102 MW absorption, the second-highest compared to key markets in Europe and the Americas. Large cloud players are increasing their presence in the world’s second-largest user market. At the same time, the advent of the pandemic has prompted a faster shift to colocation from the traditional captive IT infrastructure.
The Indian Data Center industry is expected to grow more than double to 1007 MW by 2023 from its existing capacity of 447 MW. Mumbai and Chennai are expected to drive 73% of the sector’s total capacity addition during 2021-23, while other cities like Hyderabad and Delhi NCR will emerge as new hotspots. This promising asset class is expected to provide a greenfield real estate development opportunity of 6 million sq ft over the next three years.