Microsoft Azure (Cloud & AI), NTT GDC India and ST Telemedia GDC (Global Operators); Cushman & Wakefield and JLL (property and land consultancy); Pi data centers (state ecosystem); Schneider Electric (power and cooling) and Jio Platforms (connectivity) will be part of the Council.
The Andhra Pradesh government has set up the Data Center Advisory Board as a step towards positioning the state as the hub of India’s digital infrastructure. The government, in GO 46 issued on Monday, said the newly formed Council will guide the state’s policy, infrastructure and investment plan to achieve 6,000 MW of data center capacity by 2030, with Visakhapatnam as the flagship for AI-driven next-generation data infrastructure.
Following the Andhra Pradesh Data Center Policy 4.0, the initiative aims to translate marquee commitments, including Google’s 1 GW and Sify Infinity’s 550 MW, into rapid on-site expansion, job creation and global avenues to boost investor confidence.
The council will advise the government on a time-bound implementation plan including renewable energy integration, high-capacity fiber connectivity, dedicated DC parks, plug-and-play campuses, streamlined clearance and real estate policies tailored for hyperscale development. The council will also focus on talent development, cybersecurity resilience and global investor reach to meet the 2030 goal.
The Council includes representation from leading global and domestic stakeholders across the data center ecosystem — Microsoft Azure (Cloud & AI), NTT GDC India and ST Telemedia GDC (Global Operators); Cushman & Wakefield and JLL (property and land consultancy); Pi data centers (state ecosystem); Schneider Electric (power and cooling) and Jio Platforms (connectivity).
Policy and ecosystem support will come from NASSCOM, DSCI, ISPAI and IEEMA, while Andhra University, IIM Visakhapatnam and IIT Tirupati will provide academic and research depth. Resilience and security are strengthened through CERT-In, APSDMA, APTS (State Cyber Security Operations Centre) and APSFL, ensuring secure and scalable growth.
The Council will operate through sub-committees and area-specific working groups, supported by a secretariat drawn from ITE&C and APEDB, with technical coordination by Primus Partners. This structure will ensure close synchronization between decision-making, utilities and project timelines and accelerate the conversion of anchor investments from Google and Sify into operational capacity.
Published – 27 Oct 2025 19:20 IST
