Globally renowned cities are dismissing new data centers as they suck out massive amounts of power. Up until now, data centers are concentrated in and around the financial capitals but according to Microsoft, there has to be a diversification in the geographical locations is necessary.
"Many of the developed cities, many of the developed countries have actually stopped building datacentres in those cities. Cities like Amsterdam, modern cities like Ireland, extremely modern cities like Singapore, have almost stopped the development of new data centers in their cities. They are sucking out the entire power of that city," said Rahul Dhar, country director, data centers at Microsoft.
In India, Maharashtra faces power shortages. To tackle this issue, Sify Technologies has opened its first data center in India at the Vashi railway stations as there is more power supply at the site. As the industry grows significantly, data centers need to be spread across locations. Mumbai, being India's financial capital, had advantages like cable landing, power availability, stability, dense fiber networks, and supportive government policies. By 2023, it is being estimated that data centers in Mumbai will double from the current 200MW to 410MW, stretching around Mumbai.
Maharashtra's industries minister Subhash Desai also agrees with this need to expand the geographies. Showing the government's support, he also added that the state will be able to do more once its new policy on IT and IT services come into effect in the next month.
Right now, the stretch from Airoli to Mahape in Navi Mumbai is being planned to become a new hub for data centers. Maharashtra Industrial Develop Corporation (MIDC) chief executive, P Anbalagan said the state can mark up to 250 acres in 900 acres of land at Navi Mumbai's Taloja for datacentres.
