Andhra Pradesh Forms Data Centre Advisory Council to Achieve 6,000 MW Capacity by 2030

• The Government of Andhra Pradesh has set up a Data Centre Advisory Council to guide the state toward its goal of achieving 6,000 MW of data centre capacity by 2030 . The initiative aligns with the Data Centre Policy 4.0 , which focuses on expanding digital infrastructure and attracting global investments.

Leadership and Composition

• The council will be chaired by Nara Lokesh , Minister for Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (ITE&C). Members include representatives from Microsoft Azure, NTT Global Data Centres, ST Telemedia GDC, Cushman & Wakefield, JLL, Pi Data Centres, Schneider Electric, Nasscom, and DSCI , bringing expertise in cloud computing, power management, cybersecurity, and industrial infrastructure.

Key Objectives

• The council will provide strategic and technical guidance for developing data centre infrastructure, focusing on renewable energy integration, high-speed fibre connectivity, and plug-and-play campuses. It will also create a policy feedback loop to help the state government refine regulations, improve investor confidence, and ensure faster project implementation.

Major Investments

• The move follows large-scale commitments such as Google’s 1 GW and Sify Infinity’s 550 MW data centres in Visakhapatnam , marking Andhra Pradesh’s emergence as a key player in India’s digital economy.

Economic and Strategic Significance

• Andhra Pradesh aims to convert these investments into operational facilities, leveraging its strong energy base, port connectivity, and skilled workforce . According to Nara Lokesh, data centres are “ the new refineries of the AI era ,” symbolizing their role in driving the digital and AI-based economy.

Key Facts

• Target Capacity: 6,000 MW by 2030

• Chairperson: Nara Lokesh

• Major Investors: Google (1 GW), Sify Infinity (550 MW)

• Members: Microsoft, NTT GDC, ST Telemedia GDC, JLL, Schneider Electric, Nasscom, DSCI

• Focus: Renewable energy integration, policy reform, and infrastructure development