State-owned telecom ITI Ltd is planning to build a second data center in the Indian state of Karnataka, at a cost of INR120 Crore ($18m).

The company’s first facility, also in state-capital Bengaluru, was set up in 2009, offering colo, bandwidth and managed services to public and private customers.

More houses for India’s data 

Bengaluru skyline
Bengaluru skyline – Thinkstock

The new facility, which is expected to be operational by January next year, will house approximately 1,200 racks.

Disaster recovery for the site will be situated in the company’s Naini facility, which is located in the industrial area of Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. It will comprise 500 racks, costing INR50 Crore ($7.8m).

ITI chairman and managing director S. Gopu told The Hindu Times that “after our first data center in Bengaluru, we have seen significant success, especially in the implementation of Aadhaar,” the country’s biometric ID system, launched in 2009.

With Aadhaar, a 12 digit number is attributed to volunteering Indian citizens, corresponding to their biometric and demographic data. Having an Aadhaar is not compulsory, although it is mandatory for receiving rations and, as of December 31st 2017, for opening a bank account holding over INR50,000 ($780), as well as for individuals with existing bank accounts.