From Cloud to Core Mapping the Data Centre Footprint of India’s Leading IT Firms

1. From Cloud to Core: Mapping the Data Centre Footprint of India’s Leading IT Firms

2. INTRODUCTION Data centres have gone from being a behind-the-scenes support function to the backbone of India’s digital world. Whether it’s your UPI payment, a quick video call, or the hundreds of apps businesses rely on every day – there’s a data centre powering it somewhere. And it’s not just about size anymore. Speed, location, energy use, compliance – everything matters. • That’s why every big IT firm in India is now treating data infrastructure as a top priority. From cloud partnerships to setting up their own sites, the country’s leading players are mapping out their data centre footprint with a sharp focus on performance and future growth.

3. Why data centres have become a core part of IT • Let’s be honest – most of us never really think about where our data goes. But for businesses and governments, knowing exactly where it’s stored, how fast it can be accessed, and whether it’s secure is critical. • India’s push towards data localisation has only made this more important. Add to that the rise of hybrid work, cloud-native applications, and AI workloads – and suddenly, having the right data centre strategy isn’t a bonus, it’s a necessity. • Today, a serious IT solutions company in India can’t just offer software or services. It needs infrastructure too. Real, local, reliable infrastructure.

4. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Essar has announced plans to build data centres by leveraging its land banks, captive power capacity, and connectivity access. That means they’re not just building centres. • TCS – Scale and reliability, with Indian depth • Infosys – Cleaner, smarter, more sustainable • HCLTech – Playing the edge game • Wipro – A balanced and flexible approach • Essar

5. WHY TIER-2 CITIES ARE SUDDENLY ON radar • Big metros like Mumbai and Bengaluru are running out of space and power – and they’re expensive. That’s why a lot of companies are now looking at places like Indore, Bhubaneswar, Kochi, and even Nagpur for new builds. • Cheaper land and electricity • Lower latency for regional users • Better power reliability • Less congestion, more space to scale

6. A FEW BUMPS ON THE ROAD • Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. Building data centres in India still has its share of headaches: • Land and power access are tricky in urban areas • Complying with ever-changing data laws is a constant effort • Finding skilled manpower to manage large facilities isn’t easy • But the major players are pushing ahead. Using AI for cooling, automating workflows, tapping solar and wind – they’re doing what it takes to stay ahead.

7. WHAT’S NEXT? • Expect more of everything – micro data centres, edge setups in rural areas, smarter cooling systems, faster build times. With India’s digital economy growing rapidly, we’re just getting started. • Even sectors like agriculture, logistics, and education are demanding local, secure hosting. And as AI becomes more mainstream, companies will need better processing capacity close to their users. • This means the role of every IT solutions company will keep expanding – from just service providers to full-fledged infrastructure players.

8. FINAL WORD India’s IT firms are no longer just writing code – they’re building the physical and digital foundations of the country’s future. Whether it’s Infosys going green, Tech Mahindra going 5G, or Essar bringing in industrial muscle – they’re all playing a part. The journey from cloud to core is what makes modern tech work. And behind every seamless digital moment, there’s a well-placed data centre doing its job quietly and efficiently. So if you’re an enterprise looking to digitise, don’t just look at the software stack. Ask where the data lives. That’s where the future really is.

9. THANK YOU • https://www.essar.com