Colt DCS and RMZ Join Forces for USD 1.7-Billion Data Centre Revolution in India

Fidelity Investments-backed global hyperscale data centre operator Colt Data Centre Services (Colt DCS) and leading real estate developer RMZ Corporation have formed a joint venture to strengthen India's digital backbone with an investment exceeding $1.7 billion. This partnership will spearhead the development of world-class data infrastructure, targeting the growing demand in India’s digital economy.

Through its arm RMZ Digital Infrastructure Partners (RDIP), RMZ has entered into an equal partnership with Colt DCS. This platform aims to establish state-of-the-art data centres, addressing the rising need for secure, scalable, and sustainable digital storage solutions.

India: A Strategic Expansion Hub

Niclas Sanfridsson, CEO of Colt DCS, stated that India remains a key market in delivering the company’s ambitious growth strategy. Leveraging Colt DCS’s proven expertise in hyperscale cloud services, this collaboration with RMZ will drive faster project execution and innovation in the Indian data centre space.

The initial investment will focus on advancing projects in Navi Mumbai and Ambattur, Chennai, with a third site planned for future development. Over the next 3-5 years, the platform’s capacity will exceed 250 MW, cementing its presence as a major player in India's growing data centre landscape.

Driving India’s Digital Future

Deepak Chhabria, CEO of RMZ Infrastructure, highlighted the rapid transformation in India’s data centre industry, fueled by rising cloud adoption and AI advancements. He noted that digital infrastructure is pivotal to India’s economic trajectory, making this joint venture a cornerstone investment for the country’s future.

The venture will allocate funds through a mix of equity and debt capital, with additional investments likely as demand accelerates. Colt DCS’s planned 100 MW data centre in Airoli, Navi Mumbai, will join its existing operational facility of 25 MW, creating a 125 MW advanced data centre campus. Another 80-100 MW data centre is set to rise in Ambattur, Chennai, supported by a recently acquired 10-acre land parcel.

Global Expertise Meets Local Opportunity

Founded as City of London Telecom in 1992 and acquired by Fidelity Investments in 2015, Colt DCS operates 14 hyperscale data centre campuses across France, Germany, the UK, Japan, and India. Its entry into the Indian market underscores the country’s growing prominence as a hub for digital innovation.

India’s increasing reliance on data centres for payments, gaming, metaverse development, and artificial intelligence is driving a surge in investment. With new markets emerging and campus sizes rivalling global standards, the Indian data centre industry is positioning itself as a hotbed for international investment and technological advancement.

India’s Data Centre Landscape: A Global Opportunity

The collaboration between Colt DCS and RMZ marks a pivotal moment in India’s data infrastructure evolution. As digital adoption accelerates, investments like these will not only meet immediate data storage needs but also future-proof India’s economy for emerging trends.