Meta partners with Reliance to lease AI-powered data center in India

The 168 MW deal is part of a broader joint venture between Meta and Reliance to build Llama-based AI solutions for Indian businesses.

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Add us on Google by Editorial Team Jun. 9, 2026

Meta has secured a 168 megawatt data center lease from Reliance Industries in India. The arrangement places Meta’s computing operations inside one of the world’s fastest-growing digital markets.

The deal sits within a joint venture between the two companies, with Reliance holding roughly 70% ownership. The venture’s focus: building enterprise AI solutions powered by Meta’s Llama models, specifically tailored for Indian businesses.

What the deal actually looks like

The data center is expected to be located in either Jamnagar, Gujarat or Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Both cities are part of Reliance’s broader blueprint for constructing gigawatt-scale AI campuses across the country.

Reliance is targeting 100 to 120 MW of operational capacity by 2026 as an initial deployment phase.

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The joint venture’s emphasis on Llama-based solutions is notable. Meta has been aggressively open-sourcing its Llama family of models, and this partnership gives those models a dedicated enterprise distribution channel in a market with over 1.4 billion people.

Reliance’s $110 billion AI bet

The Indian conglomerate has unveiled a $110 billion multi-year plan covering data centers and renewable energy infrastructure. Reliance is treating AI infrastructure the way it once treated petroleum refineries: as a capital-intensive business where scale is the entire competitive advantage.

Reliance has also committed over $11 billion through joint ventures with partners like Brookfield and Digital Realty, specifically targeting AI infrastructure buildouts. The company’s ambition is to reach 1 gigawatt of total AI data center capacity, a figure that would make it one of the largest AI infrastructure operators in Asia.

Google Cloud is also involved in Reliance’s broader AI strategy, adding another layer to what’s becoming a multi-hyperscaler approach to India’s digital transformation.

Why Meta wants to be in India

The early discussions between Meta and Reliance reportedly began in 2024, when Meta explored leasing computing capacity in Chennai. Those initial conversations evolved into this larger, more ambitious collaboration. The shift from Chennai to Jamnagar or Visakhapatnam suggests the scope of Meta’s needs grew beyond what was initially contemplated.

Localizing data operations in India also helps Meta navigate the country’s evolving data sovereignty landscape. Indian regulators have been increasingly vocal about wanting sensitive data processed domestically, and having physical infrastructure in-country removes a potential regulatory obstacle before it becomes one.

What this means for investors

The joint venture structure, with Reliance holding 70% ownership, means Meta gets significant infrastructure access without bearing the full capital expenditure burden.

Reliance’s 2026 target for initial deployment will be the first real test of whether this ambitious blueprint can translate into operating capacity.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.