With the overall digital economy from IoT, 5G services, Artificial Intelligence, and Cloud Computing. Data Centers in India must change to accommodate large bandwidth, less latency, and more scalability as organizations and consumers generate huge volumes of data. Modern Data Centers are starting to be created on High-speed Ethernet (HSE) that comprises 25G, 40G, 100G, and even 4000G systems. Top Data Centers like Kennies IT are now using HSE to be the best provider with faster, energy-efficient, smarter speed data centers. Likewise Kennies IT, there are numerous data centers preferring HSE adoption. Here, with this article we will take you through Why HSE adoption is accelerating with huge growth in India?
Growth Of High Speed Ethernet & Expansion
India is currently experiencing an unprecedented data explosion. According to a report by NASSCOM and MeitY, India’s data consumption is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 30%, and the country is expected to account for nearly 20% of the world’s data by 2025. This surge is being driven by several factors: an increase in smartphone usage, the rise of OTT platforms, 5G rollout, digital banking, IoT adoption, and AI-powered applications.
These developments necessitate a robust backend infrastructure capable of managing vast volumes of data with minimal latency and maximum uptime. Enter data centers—critical facilities that store, manage, and disseminate data. India is quickly becoming a data center hub in Asia, with states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh offering incentives to attract investments. Leading players such as Yotta, AdaniConneX, NTT, and CtrlS are spearheading large-scale data center projects across the country.
High-Speed Ethernet: The Backbone of Modern Data Centers
As data center operators grapple with massive workloads and data-intensive applications, high-speed Ethernet emerges as the linchpin for efficient and scalable network performance. Traditionally, data centers in India operated on 1 Gbps or 10 Gbps networks. However, these speeds are increasingly inadequate for the volume and speed required by modern-day applications. Today, 25 Gbps, 40 Gbps, 100 Gbps, and even 400 Gbps Ethernet are being adopted to meet escalating demands.
High-speed Ethernet allows for:
- Faster Data Transfers: With 100 Gbps and above, massive volumes of data can be moved with minimal delay, ensuring seamless access and processing.
- Scalability: Higher bandwidth facilitates the easy scaling of data center capacity, making it possible to add more servers and storage without compromising performance.
- Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness: Consolidated high-speed links reduce the number of cables and switches needed, leading to savings in hardware, power, and cooling.
- Low Latency: Essential for applications such as online gaming, stock trading, and real-time analytics where milliseconds can make a difference.
- Ethernet Evolution and India’s Readiness
- The evolution from 1G to 400G Ethernet has not only revolutionized global data center operations but is now playing a transformative role in India’s digital infrastructure.
- 25/50G Ethernet: These speeds are increasingly becoming the new standard for server connections in hyperscale data centers. With better performance per watt and lower latency, they offer a compelling upgrade path for Indian enterprises.
- 100G Ethernet: Already in deployment across India’s major data center hubs, 100G links serve as a backbone between racks and across data center clusters, improving network throughput and reducing congestion.
- 400G and Beyond: Though still nascent in India, 400G Ethernet is being tested and adopted in select hyperscale environments. This is vital for future-proofing infrastructure, especially with AI workloads, machine learning, and big data analytics becoming mainstream.
Telecom giants like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, along with tech majors like Google and Amazon, are investing in high-speed Ethernet solutions to boost cloud availability and edge computing in India. The National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) project, along with submarine cable expansions, is also laying the groundwork for even faster and more reliable connections across the country.
Rise Of Regional High Speed Data Centers
India’s vast geography and digital diversity have necessitated the shift towards decentralized computing. Edge data centers, located closer to end-users, help reduce latency and enhance the performance of critical applications. These smaller facilities rely heavily on high-speed Ethernet to communicate with core data centers and cloud platforms.
Adoption of cloud computing and digital transformation
- According to NASSCOM the cloud market in India is expected to reach $13 billion by 2026.
- Businesses are moving away from legacy systems and toward cloud-based alternatives in order to increase the speed of data flow.
Growing Need for AI Big Data and IoT
- AI workloads require low-latency high-bandwidth networks when processing in real-time.
- Data centers must have fast interconnects because IoT devices generate massive amounts of data.
Government programs (Data Localization Digital India)
- Indian user data must remain within India according to policies like Data Localization.
- Because of this hyperscale data centers which rely on HSE to function efficiently have proliferated.
Up to 30% less energy is spent thanks to HSE
- Modern switches with Energy-Efficient Ethernet (EEE) reduce power consumption without compromising speed.
- Liquid cooling and HSE are used in Kennies IT green data centers to ensure sustainability.
HSE is the Engine of India’s UPI Revolution
- High-speed low-latency data center networks are essential for processing UPI transactions (10+ billion per month) in milliseconds.
- To secure transactions financial institutions prefer MACsec encryption to HSE.
India’s data localization laws are supported by HSE
- Indian businesses require fast local networks rather than cross-border transfers due to stringent data sovereignty regulations. While preserving worldwide cloud performance Kennies IT HSE infrastructure guarantees compliance.
For instance, real-time video surveillance in smart cities, autonomous transport systems, and industrial IoT deployments all require instantaneous data processing. High-speed Ethernet enables edge nodes to exchange data rapidly and securely, improving responsiveness and operational efficiency.
Government Policies and Private Sector Synergy
The Indian government has been actively fostering the growth of data infrastructure through initiatives like the Data Centre Policy 2020, which provides incentives for setting up hyperscale and edge data centers. These include land at subsidized rates, exemption from certain duties, and easier access to renewable energy sources—crucial for sustainable operations.
Meanwhile, the private sector is responding robustly. Adani Group is planning to build multiple 1 GW data centers across India, powered by green energy. Similarly, Hiranandani Group’s Yotta Infrastructure has already launched Asia’s largest Tier IV data center in Navi Mumbai, which operates on high-speed Ethernet fabric for maximum throughput and reliability.
Future Growth & Expansion Of High Speed Ethernet in Data Center
Despite the optimism, challenges remain. The high capital expenditure required for upgrading to 100G/400G Ethernet infrastructure can be a barrier for smaller players. There is also a need for skilled professionals who can design, deploy, and maintain these advanced networks. Moreover, robust cybersecurity measures must evolve alongside speed upgrades to safeguard critical data assets.
That said, the future is promising. The rapid adoption of technologies such as SDN (Software Defined Networking), NFV (Network Function Virtualization), and intent-based networking is simplifying the management of high-speed networks and making them more adaptive.
Collective Ideas
India’s data center ecosystem is at an inflection point, and high-speed Ethernet is proving to be the catalyst that powers its next phase of evolution. As more businesses move to the cloud, and digital services penetrate deeper into rural India, the demand for high-performance, low-latency infrastructure will only grow. By embracing cutting-edge Ethernet technologies and aligning government support with industry innovation, India is well on its way to becoming a global data powerhouse.