Reliance Industries and Meta Platforms announced on Wednesday a partnership to build a 168 megawatt AI-enabled data centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The facility represents Meta’s first built-to-suit data centre capacity in India and will serve the company’s global infrastructure on a lease basis, with operations expected to begin within two years.

Under the agreement, Reliance will handle the complete lifecycle of the facility, from design and construction through to ongoing operations, utility management, renewable power supply, network connectivity, and managed services. The project includes an option to scale capacity beyond the initial 168 MW.

For users of Meta’s platforms including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, this infrastructure investment aims to support faster processing speeds and enhanced AI capabilities across India, one of Meta’s largest global markets. The data centre will power both core services and emerging AI workloads that drive features from content recommendations to automated moderation.

Jamnagar Location Chosen for Energy and Connectivity Advantages

Reliance selected Jamnagar as the site for what it describes as one of the world’s largest data centre campuses under development. The location offers specific operational benefits critical for hyperscale AI computing.

The facility will be powered entirely by renewable energy and cooled using desalinated seawater, with Meta covering the full cost of energy and water supporting operations. This cooling approach addresses one of the most significant operational challenges for high-density AI computing infrastructure.

Gujarat’s proximity to India’s western submarine cable landing stations and Jio’s extensive fibre network provides the connectivity backbone required for data-intensive operations. The region also offers access to significant renewable energy resources needed to power advanced AI infrastructure at scale.

Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Meta, stated the world-class facility would help scale the company’s AI infrastructure globally while deepening long-term investment in India’s economy. The official announcement from Meta confirmed this as part of broader expansion of capacity footprint to support AI ambitions serving billions worldwide.

Meta Commits Nearly 1 Gigawatt of Clean Energy Across India

Alongside the data centre agreement, Meta announced contracts for nearly 1 gigawatt of new clean and renewable energy in India through two major providers.

CleanMax will deliver 837 MW of new solar and wind projects across Rajasthan and Karnataka, bringing total capacity announced with the provider to over 900 MW. Fourth Partner Energy will contribute 88 MW through solar and wind projects spanning Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh.

These agreements represent a material commitment to India’s clean energy ecosystem and align with Meta’s global goal of matching all operations with 100 percent clean and renewable energy. The contracts also address Meta’s value chain emissions in the region.

The renewable energy commitment extends beyond the Jamnagar facility itself, supporting Meta’s broader infrastructure footprint across India. This mirrors patterns seen in similar AI data centre investments where power supply and sustainability have become critical site selection factors.

Partnership Builds on 5.7 Billion Dollar Jio Investment

The data centre agreement marks the latest chapter in a strategic partnership between Reliance and Meta that began with a landmark 5.7 billion dollar investment in Jio Platforms in 2020. That initial investment focused on accelerating connectivity and empowering small business growth across India.

The companies subsequently deepened collaboration through a joint venture bringing Meta’s open-source AI models to Indian enterprises and developers. Today’s infrastructure agreement extends the partnership into physical computing capacity.

Mukesh D. Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, described the partnership as transforming India’s digital infrastructure and demonstrating the country’s readiness for the global AI revolution. He noted Reliance’s commitment to building world-class digital infrastructure to power next-generation AI innovation for India and the world.

Reliance Industries has committed to invest 110 billion dollars over the next seven years specifically for AI-related infrastructure development. Ambani has publicly stated his vision of connecting India to what he calls the intelligence era.

The project aligns with the Government of India’s policy framework designating data centres as strategic national infrastructure and introducing long-term policies to attract global AI infrastructure investment. For context on how Meta’s AI features are being deployed to users, the company has integrated AI capabilities across its platform suite including WhatsApp.

India Emerges as Strategic Hub for Hyperscale AI Infrastructure

The Jamnagar facility positions India as a significant destination for hyperscale AI computing infrastructure beyond traditional data centre markets. India’s rapidly growing tech-forward digital economy and massive user base make it an increasingly attractive location for such investments.

The built-to-suit model employed here differs from typical colocation arrangements. Meta will lease dedicated capacity specifically designed for its requirements rather than sharing standardised space with multiple tenants. This approach provides greater control over specifications, security, and scalability.

The two-year construction timeline suggests an aggressive deployment schedule. Industry standards for facilities of this scale typically range from 24 to 36 months depending on site conditions and supply chain factors.

Meta’s network investments, including Project Waterworth described as the world’s longest subsea cable system, will bring enhanced connectivity to the region. This infrastructure layer enables the speed and quality required to serve India’s user community effectively.

The facility will support what Meta describes as personal superintelligence capabilities, referring to advanced AI features being rolled out across its platform ecosystem. These features require substantial computing resources for both training models and running inference at scale.

Other technology companies have similarly recognised India’s potential for AI infrastructure. The concentration of technical talent, supportive government policies, and growing domestic demand create conditions favourable for sustained investment in this sector.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the Reliance-Meta data centre in Jamnagar become operational?

The 168 MW AI-enabled data centre is expected to become operational within two years from the announcement date of June 11, 2026. This puts the projected live date around mid-2028, though specific completion timelines were not disclosed in official statements. The facility includes an option to scale capacity beyond the initial 168 MW specification.

How much renewable energy has Meta committed to in India for this project?

Meta announced contracts for nearly 1 gigawatt of new clean and renewable energy in India, separate from the Jamnagar facility’s renewable power. This includes 837 MW from CleanMax through solar and wind projects in Rajasthan and Karnataka, plus 88 MW from Fourth Partner Energy across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. The Jamnagar data centre itself will be powered entirely by renewable energy with Meta covering full energy costs.

What makes Jamnagar suitable for a large-scale AI data centre?

Jamnagar offers several strategic advantages for hyperscale AI operations. The location provides access to significant renewable energy resources required for power-intensive AI computing, availability of desalinated seawater for cooling systems, proximity to India’s western submarine cable landing stations for international connectivity, and direct access to Jio’s extensive fibre network. Reliance is developing one of the largest data centre campuses globally at this site with delivery capability to support operations at scale.

Conclusion

The Reliance-Meta partnership for a 168 MW AI data centre in Jamnagar represents a strategic bet on India’s position in global AI infrastructure. With renewable energy commitments approaching 1 gigawatt, a two-year construction timeline, and built-to-suit specifications for Meta’s requirements, the project signals both companies’ confidence in India’s capacity to support hyperscale computing demands.

As AI workloads continue growing across Meta’s platform ecosystem, dedicated infrastructure in one of its largest markets provides both operational advantages and positions India as a computing hub rather than solely a consumption market. The success of this facility will likely influence whether additional hyperscale operators pursue similar investments in the region.