The Government of Andhra Pradesh has officially established a new Data Centre Advisory Council, signaling its ambitious plan to become India’s leading digital infrastructure powerhouse. Announced via G.O. 46 on Monday, this high-level council will be instrumental in shaping the state’s policies, infrastructure development, and investment strategies. Its primary goal is to achieve an impressive 6,000 MW data center capacity by 2030, with Visakhapatnam earmarked as the prime location for cutting-edge, AI-powered data infrastructure.
This initiative builds upon the foundation of Andhra Pradesh’s Data Centre Policy 4.0, aiming to swiftly transform significant investment pledges, such as Google’s 1 GW and Sify Infinity’s 550 MW commitments, into tangible, on-the-ground expansion. This push is expected to generate numerous jobs and significantly boost global investor confidence in the state’s digital future.
The Council will play a crucial advisory role, guiding the government on a comprehensive, time-bound roadmap. This includes critical areas like integrating renewable energy sources, developing robust high-capacity fiber connectivity, establishing dedicated data center parks, creating convenient “plug-and-play” campuses, streamlining approval processes, and crafting real estate policies tailored for large-scale, hyperscale development. Furthermore, the Council will prioritize nurturing local talent, enhancing cybersecurity resilience, and actively engaging with international investors to ensure the 2030 target is met.
Comprising a diverse group of global and domestic leaders from across the data center ecosystem, the Council brings together top-tier expertise. Members include global operators like Microsoft Azure (Cloud & AI), NTT GDC India, and ST Telemedia GDC; real estate and land advisory specialists such as Cushman & Wakefield and JLL; state ecosystem contributors like Pi Data Centers; power and cooling innovators like Schneider Electric; and connectivity giants like Jio Platforms.
Further strengthening its foundation, the Council will receive vital policy and ecosystem support from prominent organizations including NASSCOM, DSCI, ISPAI, and IEEMA. Academic and research depth will be provided by esteemed institutions like Andhra University, IIM Visakhapatnam, and IIT Tirupati. To ensure secure and scalable growth, robust resilience and cybersecurity measures will be overseen by CERT-In, APSDMA, APTS (State Cyber Security Operations Centre), and APSFL.
Structured to maximize efficiency, the Council will operate through specialized domain-specific sub-committees and task forces. A dedicated Secretariat, comprising officials from ITE&C and APEDB, along with technical coordination from Primus Partners, will support these efforts. This streamlined structure is designed to foster close collaboration between decision-makers, utility providers, and project execution teams, thereby accelerating the deployment of major investments from industry leaders like Google and Sify into fully operational data center capacity.