NTT Data has revealed that its highly anticipated Malaysia, India, Singapore Transit (MIST) subsea cable system is set to be commissioned by June this year. The announcement follows plans to double its data centre capacity in India in the coming years, highlighting the company’s strategic focus on expanding its infrastructure in key markets.
The MIST cable, spanning 8,100km, connects Malaysia, India, Singapore, and Thailand, featuring 12 fibre pairs and a design capacity exceeding 200Tbps. It is owned by Orient Link (OLL), a joint venture that comprises NTT, the Fund Corporation for the Overseas Development of Japan’s ICT and Postal Services Inc. (JICT), and WEN Capital. The project was initiated in 2019 as part of NTT’s effort to enhance connectivity between its data centres in Singapore, Myanmar, and India, with NEC contracted for its construction in 2020. Initially expected to be operational in the third quarter of FY2022, the project faced delays before the June 2024 commissioning date.
In conjunction with the MIST update, NTT Data outlined a broader investment strategy in India, which includes two landing points for the cable in Chennai and Mumbai. According to reports from Nikkei Asia, the company plans to invest approximately US$1.5 billion in India over three years, aiming to expand its data centre footprint from 21 existing facilities to 30, with a total IT load capacity increasing from 290MW to 700MW by 2027.
Additionally, NTT Data is rolling out its Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) — next-gen all-photonics network (APN) technology — to interconnect its data centres in Mumbai. This innovative approach is designed to facilitate higher performance data transmission at reduced costs, with intentions to market the technology globally by 2030 to address the growing demand for AI-driven data solutions.
The company also announced upgrades and expansions to its Innovation Centre in Bengaluru, focusing on AI, digital twin technologies, and quantum computing projects to bolster its research and development capabilities in cutting-edge technologies.
