Ctrl S to put in Rs 750 cr to have more data centres

A tier-4 centre uses two systems to protect the data while eliminating the remote possibility of human error.

"Of late, the nature of companies has been changing with software-as-a-service (SaaS) and grid computing increasingly becoming popular, creating a spurt in demand for data centres. This high-growth industry in India, however, has no significant third-party player as yet. To cash in on this demand, we have proposed to set up data centres in Chennai, Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata," said Chairman Managing Director PS Reddy.

The company is expected to achieve financial closure of Rs 750 crore for its expansion, which is proposed to be funded in a debt-equity ratio of 60:40, in the next two months, he added.

"Work on the six data centres, including land acquisition and lease deals, has already begun. We expect the centres to be fully operational by year-end. Initially, the centres would house 8,000 racks, which would be scaled up to 20,000 racks in four years with an additional investment of Rs 250 crore," Reddy said.

Ctrl S is promoted by the Rs 700-crore Pioneer Group and is backed by New York-based Och-Ziff Capital, the fifth largest fund in the world, and IDBI Bank as its investors.

Ctrl S set up the country's first tier-4 data centre, the highest category of data centres in the world with 99.999 per cent availability, in Hyderabad in February this year. The company has so far invested Rs 25 crore in the facility.