Anuj Kashyap, Head DC Operation (North, East and South India), Sify Technologies Limited
Data centres are playing a central role in driving the growth of fibre networks. The growing information and communication technology ecosystem, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) and predictive analytics and trends like hybrid IT and hybrid work further strengthen the need for high speed, reliable data infrastructure.
Basic requirements of data centres
India generates 20 per cent of global data, but only 3 per cent of that data is currently stored within the country. This is due to several factors. However, as infrastructure improves, the aim is to store this data locally. To make this possible, infrastructure must be in place.
High speed data transmission is the backbone that connects hyperscalers and edge data centres. Low-latency, high-bandwidth interconnects are critical for running AI networks and managing internal infrastructure. Earlier, data centres were single-building set ups; now, campuses with multiple buildings are common, demanding seamless connectivity across structures. Each data centre requires a disaster recovery site. Fibre connectivity is essential for this because wireless simply cannot match the reliability or speed.
Sify’s portfolio
India’s optical fibre cable (OFC) market is projected to reach $7.5 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 20.11 per cent. Meta plans to invest approximately $200 million to build network infrastructure in the country. Similarly, Microsoft is planning investments worth about $3 billion in fibre networks. As major organisations invest in India, data centres are playing a key role in building the country’s fibre infrastructure.
Initially, India had only two cable landing stations for fibre termination – Mumbai and Chennai. A new one is coming up in Kolkata, under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, involving collaboration between 10 countries.
Sify has a presence in six major cities across India – Noida, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Chennai. All these data centres are interconnected through fibre, both optical ground wire and underground networks.
As data centre campuses emerge, multiple towers and buildings are being constructed within single campuses. To ensure better user experience and network reliability, each data centre connects through four paths to nearby campuses. These, in turn, connect to multiple towers within each region, creating a large, robust infrastructure. To support this, there is a significant requirement for fibre networks.
Upcoming edge data centres
Data centres are expanding into Tier II cities, leading to the rise of edge data centres. India generates a massive volume of data, and carrying this data requires significant infrastructure.
Currently, only about 45 per cent of Indian users access data through wired broadband infrastructure; the rest use mobile networks, especially in villages. Given that India generates around 20 per cent of global data, edge data centres must be built with high-bandwidth, low-latency networks. These edge centres bring data closer to users, allowing faster data access and better user experience.
Sify is developing its edge data centres in Chandigarh and Lucknow. Overall, over 10 edge data centres in Tier II and Tier III cities are being planned by the company.
Further, AI and the infrastructure needed to run these data centres will play a major role in driving network growth. Reliable network access is crucial and requires significant fibre connectivity. Network stability is ensured through meet-me rooms built into each data centre. These rooms serve as hubs where all operators host their fibre connectivity.
Carrier-neutral campuses also contribute significantly – 90 per cent of the network capacity lies within data centres, and everything initiates from there. Cloud platforms hosting data centres have disaster recovery sites that are located 500 km away or in separate seismic zones. This set-up needs strong network connectivity to ensure that a failure in one set-up has no user impact.
Industry use case
Sectors such as banking are heavily dependent on data centres. Every bank operates through data centres, and even regulatory bodies such as the Reserve Bank of India mandate that core infrastructure must be housed within them. Reliable, stable fibre connectivity is crucial for seamless banking operations. The same applies to manufacturing. That is why these industries depend on high speed fibre as their primary connection, using wireless only as backup.
Even a compact set up of 40 racks inside a data centre may need thousands of fibre patch cords. A full-fledged tower can have 7,000-10,000 cross-connects, each requiring multiple fibre hops, resulting in over 40,000 patch cords per tower. With about 160 data centres operational in India, fibre demand is surging rapidly.
Based on a presentation by Anuj Kashyap, Head DC Operation (North, East and South India), Sify Technologies Limited
