Mumbai Ranks 6th Globally in Under-Construction Data Centre Capacity

Mumbai has secured the 6th position globally among 97 cities in terms of under-construction data centre capacity, as per the latest ‘Global Data Center Market Comparison 2025’ report by Cushman & Wakefield. With 335 MW of capacity currently being built, the city leads the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and is poised to boost its operational capacity by 62%. The surge is driven by rising demand from hyperscalers, the rapid expansion of cloud computing and AI-based workloads, and the city’s robust digital and power infrastructure.

Why in News?

Cushman & Wakefield released its 2025 edition of the Global Data Center Market Comparison Report, covering 97 global markets. Mumbai ranked 6th globally and 1st in APAC for under-construction data centre capacity with 335 MW.  The development signals Mumbai’s growing prominence as a digital infrastructure hub, enhancing India’s status in the global data economy.

Global Rankings – Under-Construction Data Centre Capacity (Top 10 Cities)

1. Virginia – 1,834 MW
2. Atlanta – 1,078 MW
3. Columbus – 546 MW
4. Dallas – 500 MW
5. Phoenix – 478 MW
6. Mumbai – 335 MW
7. Austin/San Antonio – 325 MW
8. Reno – 305 MW
9. London – 265 MW
10. Dublin – 249 MW

Mumbai’s Data Centre Highlights

• Under-construction capacity: 335 MW (as of end-2024)
• Expected growth: 62% increase in operational capacity
• Current share: Over 50% of India’s total data centre capacity
• Key projects: Driven by demand from hyperscalers (large-scale cloud providers)

Enablers

• 12 submarine cable landing stations
• Recent MIST (Myanmar/Malaysia-India-Singapore Transit) cable landing
• Strong digital backbone and power supply

Challenges

• Land availability in key regions
• Power access and cost in certain pockets

Background and Key Drivers

• Cloud computing, AI, IoT, and 5G adoption are rapidly scaling global data usage, leading to rising demand for modern data centre infrastructure.
• Mumbai’s strategic coastal location, status as India’s financial capital, and strong tech ecosystem make it an ideal hub for global operators.
• Hyperscalers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Meta are expanding presence in India, further fuelling growth.

Significance

• Strengthens India’s position in the global digital economy.
• Supports Make in India – Digital India initiatives by boosting digital infrastructure.
• Attracts foreign direct investment (FDI) in data-heavy sectors like fintech, e-commerce, and AI research.
• Ensures data localization compliance and better latency for Indian users.
• Paves the way for smart cities and secure digital services.