Equinix Opens First AI-Ready Data Center in Chennai to Strengthen India’s Digital and AI Ecosystem
Built on a six-acre plot in Siruseri, the CN1 facility represents an initial investment of $69 million, offering 800 cabinets in its first phase and expandable to 4,250 cabinets.
Chennai, September 20: Global digital infrastructure company Equinix has launched its first International Business Exchange™ (IBX®) data center in Chennai, marking a major step in expanding India’s AI and digital ecosystem.
Built on a six-acre plot in Siruseri, the CN1 facility represents an initial investment of $69 million, offering 800 cabinets in its first phase and expandable to 4,250 cabinets. Interconnected with Equinix’s Mumbai campus, CN1 is engineered for 99.999% uptime and features advanced capabilities including liquid cooling readiness to support high-density AI workloads.
“CN1 reflects our commitment to enabling businesses in Tamil Nadu and across India to leverage future-ready, scalable, and sustainable digital infrastructure,” said Manoj Paul, Managing Director, Equinix India. “This milestone not only strengthens India’s digital backbone but also empowers its position as a global technology hub.”
The facility will support industries such as healthcare, smart infrastructure, manufacturing, and security by enabling real-time Edge AI applications. Equipped with a private 5G-ready network and advanced interconnection services like Equinix Fabric®, the data center will allow enterprises to scale hybrid multicloud strategies efficiently.
Equinix has emphasized sustainability, with CN1 incorporating renewable energy investments in solar and wind power. Globally, the company achieved 96% renewables coverage across operations in 2024.
With Chennai emerging as a hub for AI and digital innovation, the CN1 launch strengthens India’s competitiveness in advanced technologies, aligning with the country’s vision to be a leader in AI, quantum computing, blockchain, and edge computing.
