Andhra Pradesh Sets Up Data Centre Advisory Council to Target 6,000 MW Capacity by 2030

The Government of Andhra Pradesh has established a Data Centre Advisory Council aimed at achieving 6,000 MW of data centre capacity by 2030. The move follows major recent investments, including Google’s 1 GW and Sify Infinity’s 550 MW data centres in Visakhapatnam, and aligns with the State’s Data Centre Policy 4.0 framework to accelerate high-capacity infrastructure development.

Leadership and Composition of the Council

The council will be chaired by Nara Lokesh, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (ITE&C) of Andhra Pradesh. It includes leading global and national industry representatives such as Microsoft Azure, NTT Global Data Centres (GDC), ST Telemedia GDC, Cushman & Wakefield, JLL, Pi Data Centres, Schneider Electric, Nasscom, and the Data Security Council of India (DSCI). These members bring expertise spanning cloud services, industrial real estate, power management, and cybersecurity.

Mandate and Policy Framework

The council’s key function will be to provide strategic and technical guidance to the government for implementing a comprehensive and time-bound roadmap for the sector. Its focus areas include power and renewable energy integration, high-capacity fibre networks, dedicated data centre parks, and plug-and-play campuses. The council will also establish a continuous policy feedback loop to refine Data Centre Policy 4.0, ensuring competitiveness, faster project execution, and greater investor confidence.

Driving the Next Phase of Digital Infrastructure

According to state officials, Andhra Pradesh’s new advisory mechanism aims to convert large-scale investment announcements into operational facilities, positioning the state as a preferred data centre destination in South Asia. The initiative leverages the state’s energy resources, port connectivity, and digital infrastructure potential. The council will also facilitate talent development and research collaboration to support sustained industry growth.

Exam Oriented Facts

• Target: 6,000 MW of data centre capacity in Andhra Pradesh by 2030.
• Chairperson: Nara Lokesh, Minister for ITE&C, Andhra Pradesh.
• Major investors: Google (1 GW) and Sify Infinity (550 MW) in Visakhapatnam.
• Key members: Microsoft, NTT GDC, ST Telemedia GDC, JLL, Nasscom, Schneider Electric, and DSCI.

Strategic Importance and Industry Outlook

Highlighting the council’s strategic role, Nara Lokesh described data centres as “the new refineries of the AI era,” underscoring the economic and technological importance of data infrastructure. With Visakhapatnam emerging as a major hub following Google’s investment, Andhra Pradesh is set to become a central player in India’s data economy, offering robust policy support, renewable power availability, and a globally aligned ecosystem for data-driven industries.