Microsoft Invests Rs 1,000 Crore in Hinjewadi, Boosts Data Centre Presence in India
Microsoft has invested about Rs 1,000 crore to acquire two land parcels in Hinjewadi, Pune, to set up data centres, driving demand for 1 crore square feet of real estate space.
MicrosoftData CentresHinjewadiPuneReal EstateReal Estate PuneSep 16, 2024
The company acquired 16.4 acres of land in Hinjewadi in August, followed by another 16 acres last week. The land parcels were purchased from Ashoka Buildcon's subsidiary, Viva Highways, and Sanjiv Arora-owned Indo Global Infotech City, respectively.
This is Microsoft's third land deal in Pune, following its acquisition of a 25-acre plot in Pimpri Chinchwad in 2022 and 48 acres in Hyderabad earlier this year. The company operates data centres in Chinchwad and Hyderabad, and is expected to employ 289 full-time staffers and contractors across all its operational facilities by the end of 2026.
Microsoft's data centre operations include campus management, people management, learning and development, IT operations, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, security contractors, building maintenance, and critical environments. The company operates over 300 data centres in more than 34 countries.
The data centre industry in India is expected to witness remarkable growth, with projections of adding 791 MW capacity by 2026, according to a report by global real estate services firm JLL. This expansion is expected to drive demand for 1 crore square feet of real estate space, attracting investments worth nearly Rs 48,000 crore ($5.7 billion).
The surge in demand for data centres is primarily fuelled by the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). The demand for data centres is expected to be in the range of 650-800 MW during 2024-26, according to the report.
The exponential growth in computing power and the resulting new applications are expected to drive strong demand for data centres over the medium term. Cloud service providers, who essentially offer IT infrastructure systems primarily for data storage and computing power accessible through the internet, have realigned their requirements to factor in AI-led demand, industry players said.
Some of the major data centre firms with operations in Pune include STTelemedia and AdaniConnex. STTelemedia has a centre campus in Dighi since 2009, with a total power capacity of 40MW of IT load. AdaniConnex has a data centre in Pune with a capacity of 70 MW IT load.
Information
Microsoft is a global technology company that operates in over 190 countries. The company was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Redmond, Washington.
Microsoft is a leading technology company that aims to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more. The company's mission is to create a more productive, inclusive, and sustainable world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has Microsoft invested in Hinjewadi?
Microsoft has invested about Rs 1,000 crore to acquire two land parcels in Hinjewadi.
What is the purpose of Microsoft's investment in Hinjewadi?
The investment is aimed at setting up data centres on the acquired land.
How many data centres does Microsoft operate globally?
Microsoft operates over 300 data centres in more than 34 countries.
What is the expected demand for data centres in India by 2026?
The demand for data centres is expected to be in the range of 650-800 MW during 2024-26.
What is driving the growth in demand for data centres in India?
The increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is driving the growth in demand for data centres in India.
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