Singapore-based Princeton Digital Group (PDG), a leading data center provider, announced a growth plan for India by expanding capacity to a total of 230 MW in the country, also with a strategic investment programme of $1 billion. This program is a part of PDG’s new $5-billion investment program for AI-ready data centers in Asia.The expansion makes PDG’s flagship MU1 one of the largest operational campuses in Mumbai with the addition of three new buildings that will triple the campus’ existing capacity to 150 MW. The first phase of the 100 MW expansion is scheduled for delivery in 2026. Upon completion, MU1 will occupy around 15 acres of land.
In addition to expanding its MU1 campus, PDG is entering Chennai, one of the most established cloud hubs in India. Named CH1, the 72 MW AI-ready campus is located in the northern Chennai Metropolitan Area, which houses some of the world’s leading hyperscalers. The hyperscale data center facility will be built over 9.3 acres with scalability for future expansion, according to a release. The company is a developer and operator of Internet infrastructure with presence and operations expanded in Singapore, Japan, India, Indonesia, China, and Malaysia. Its portfolio of data centers powers the expansion of hyperscalers and enterprises in the fastest-growing digital economies across Asia.
“Mumbai and Chennai have been the pre-eminent hubs for cloud infrastructure in India due to the combination of submarine cable landing proximity, high-quality power supply, availability of renewable energy, and robust infrastructure development. With the advent of AI in India, both locations are well-positioned to become leading AI infrastructure hubs as well,” said Vipin Shirsat, Managing Director of PDG India.
PDG will offer hybrid cooling options for its customers that will enhance their sustainability and operational efficiency goals. PDG focuses on sustainability for its business. The company’s MU1 data center in Mumbai is contracted to be powered by around 50 percent with renewable energy. The company is obtaining more reliable and viable renewable energy for its expanded Mumbai campus and the new CH1 data center campus. PDG’s MU1 was the first data center in Mumbai to attain the coveted IGBC Platinum certification. The facility was built in an unprecedented 20 months, during the height of the pandemic, where the company overcame myriad supply chain challenges to deliver on time.
“A data center may be designed to accommodate a density of 10-15kW per rack. Meanwhile, an AI-ready data center is designed to accommodate high-density workloads, with racks that can accommodate much more than non AI-ready data centers. Density affects the type of cooling used, therefore, an AI-ready data centre also needs to be designed with the flexibility to incorporate next-generation cooling technologies”, said Shirsat.