The Gameplan

The outsourcing of non-core, yet business-critical services

has been much debated over the years. However, it has been accepted that it is

sensible for an enterprise to outsource its hosting needs. Here's a look at

one of the Level-3 data center of a telecom operator, which would help

understand how an organization can carry out commerce and offer quality managed

services with clear 'Service Level Agreements.' To offer managed IT

infrastructure outsourcing services, Reliance has set up world-class Internet

Datacenter (IDC) across major cities in India. Reliance IDC is a managed service

platform for delivering managed hosting, security, storage, disaster recovery,

ASP and professional support services to various enterprise customer segments.

Infrastructure Support



Located in seismically stable zones in Reliance's own premises with

multiple layers of physical and electronic security (including biometric access

and 24x7 CCTV recording), the datacenter are secure areas. High redundancy on

power supply chain from source level grids to power distribution units, DG sets,

UPS sets and batteries ensure power uptimes. Fire detection system (including

early warning system) and fire suppressions system (based on eco friendly FM200

gas) work in automated coherence. Precision air-conditioning systems standardize

temperature and humidity levels and filter out any harmful gases and dust

particles. All the facility infrastructure is monitored and controlled centrally

through a building management system (BMS).

The IDC facilities measure more than 200,000 sq ft of hosting

space. Two IDCs-35,000 sq ft (IDC1) and 100,000 sq ft (IDC2)-are functioning

in Mumbai and two others-20,000 sq ft (IDC1) and 50,000 sq ft (IDC2)-in

Bangalore. Reliance is further setting up datacenters in four other major cities

in India-Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Kolkata-thus taking the hosting

space over 500,000 sq ft in the next one year.

The datacenters are connected to 132 countries across four

continents spanning the US, the UK, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific through

Flag Telecom backbone and other undersea cable systems like Se-Me-Wea-3 and i2i

and also have public/private peering relationship with Tier 1 ISPs and content

providers at more than 15 Internet Exchange points across the globe.

The datacenters are further connected to Reliance's

countrywide optic fiber-based IP network with terabytes of capacity having

points of presence at more than 1,100 cities. The IDC claims that the potential

users across the world can access the content hosted at Reliance Datacenter with

minimal number of hops, minimal latency, and lesser packet losses.

IDC Customers



A number of enterprises from varied industry segments host their mission

critical applications at the facility. Among others: BSE, Central Depository

Services, Bank of Baroda, Euronet Worldwide Services, and OBC in the BFSI space;

HLL, Mahindra & Mahindra, Godrej Industries, Pfizer, and IPCL in

manufacturing and FMCG; Mumbai Police, BHEL, C-DAC, MSEB, and Karnataka Udyog

Mitra among the government and PSU verticals. It also has customers from other

verticals in IT & telecom, services industry, and media & entertainment.

Reliance IDC is looking at catering to the global market.

Minu Sirsalewala