The National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE) has made a significant technological leap by deploying Direct-to-Chip Liquid Cooling (DCLC) technology at its on-premises data center. This pioneering initiative is designed to bolster the exchange's capacity to handle rapidly growing artificial intelligence (AI) workloads, setting a precedent as the first such deployment within India's capital markets.
Boosting AI Capabilities and Infrastructure
The DCLC system is a critical upgrade enabling high-density, GPU-based computing through a scalable architecture. The NSE plans to significantly increase its graphics processing unit (GPU) capacity to more than 80 during the current quarter. The new infrastructure is engineered to scale up to 224 GPUs across high-density racks, with future plans to extend this advanced cooling technology to its co-location data center, responding to the evolving needs of market participants.
Viral Mody, Executive Director at NSE, emphasized the exchange's commitment to technological leadership. “At NSE, technology leadership is rooted in our commitment to bringing world-class technology to Indian market participants and building resilient, scalable and future-ready market infrastructure,” Mody stated. He added that the DCLC deployment reflects an approach to prepare for evolving computing needs while fostering a more energy-conscious technology ecosystem, aligning with the vision of 'Viksit Bharat' for a stronger, more efficient, and globally competitive Indian capital markets.
Strategic Advantages and Data Sovereignty
Keeping this advanced infrastructure on its premises is a strategic decision aimed at strengthening data sovereignty. This approach allows the NSE to maintain direct control over its AI data, computing resources, and access, which is crucial for security governance and compliance with regulatory requirements as AI use expands across the organization. The initiative underscores the NSE's dedication to building a scalable and resilient technology foundation for Indian market participants, promoting the responsible adoption of emerging technologies.
Sampath Manickam, Chief Technology Officer at NSE, highlighted the transformative impact of AI on technology infrastructure. “AI is driving a fundamental shift in technology infrastructure, with significantly higher demands on compute density, power and cooling. Our approach is to anticipate these requirements and build ahead of demand,” Manickam explained. He noted that the DCLC deployment provides an energy-efficient foundation for high-density GPU computing, enhancing the exchange's readiness for the next generation of AI workloads.
This deployment is a testament to NSE's continuous investment in advanced technologies that enhance operational excellence, improve efficiency, and support the responsible use of resources within the Indian capital markets.