NTT DATA has announced the commissioning of its Malaysia, India, Singapore Transit (MIST) submarine cable system, an 8,100-kilometer network aimed at strengthening data centre connectivity in the region. The $400-million project is expected to be fully operational by June 2025. This marks the Japanese tech giant’s first dedicated cable system connecting India with global digital infrastructure.

Expanding Digital Infrastructure in India

Shuichi Sasakura, CEO of Global Technology Services at NTT DATA, emphasised the strategic importance of the new cable system. “This cable connects India to Singapore, enabling us to maximise global data centre connectivity. We plan to invest further, particularly in India,” he stated during a media roundtable in Mumbai.

MIST, one of Asia’s largest submarine cable systems, has a transmission capacity exceeding 200 terabits per second (Tbps). It was linked to NTT DATA’s Mumbai landing station in February 2023 and its Chennai landing station in May 2023.

Massive Investment in India’s Data Centre Market

NTT DATA has already invested over $3.6 billion in India’s data centre ecosystem and continues to allocate approximately $500 million annually for expansion. According to Abhijit Dubey, CEO of NTT DATA Inc., “Our $3 billion investment in India's digital infrastructure over the last decade reflects our confidence in the region's exceptional talent and robust tech ecosystem. We remain committed to expanding our presence and strategic investments in the country that will elevate India to one of our top five markets within the next three years.”

Doug Adams, President and CEO, Americas, NTT Global Data Centres, highlighted the company’s dominant position in the Indian market. “In India, we are the largest data centre provider with a 30 per cent market share,” he said.

New Navi Mumbai Data Center Campus

Further solidifying its leadership, NTT DATA inaugurated its largest data centre campus in Navi Mumbai. Once fully operational, the facility will have a capacity exceeding 500 megawatts (MW). The company also underscored its commitment to sustainability, revealing that nearly two-thirds of its Indian data centres currently run on renewable energy. By 2030, it aims to transition all its operations and facilities to 100% renewable energy.

Global Growth and Future Roadmap

On a global scale, NTT DATA ranks as the third-largest data centre provider and is in the process of expanding its capacity from 1,500 MW to over 2,000 MW. In India alone, the company plans to add 400 MW in the coming years, reinforcing its role in the country’s digital transformation.

Akira Shimada, President and CEO of NTT Holdings, highlighted India's significance in the company’s global strategy. “India is key to our growth, driven by its rapid economic and digital expansion. We take pride in powering the country’s IT infrastructure and increasing our data centre capacity. Currently, India is among our top 10 revenue-generating markets,” he said.

NTT Holdings has pledged an investment of 8 trillion Yen ($59 billion) from FY2023 to FY2027 across various growth areas, including data centres and artificial intelligence (AI). “We are committed to delivering a full-stack digital infrastructure solution to our clients, spanning Data Centres, Networks, Applications, BPaaS, Managed Services, Cloud, Security, and AI solutions,” Shimada added.

Innovation and Talent Expansion in Bengaluru

As part of its long-term vision, NTT DATA is upgrading and expanding its Innovation Centre in Bengaluru. The facility will focus on cutting-edge technologies such as AI, digital twins, and quantum computing. This move adds to its global network of 11 innovation centres across different countries. The company plans to accelerate hiring specialised talent to drive AI-led technology solutions, particularly in agentic AI, strengthening its role in shaping the future of digital transformation worldwide.

With these strategic investments, NTT DATA continues to reinforce its presence in India and the broader Asia-Pacific region, positioning itself as a key player in the global data infrastructure landscape