The government of Andhra Pradesh has set up the data centre (DC) advisory council. According to government order (G.O.) 46, the council will guide the state’s policy, infrastructure, and investment strategies to realise 6,000-megawatt (MW) of DC capacity by 2030, with Visakhapatnam serving as the flagship destination for next-generation, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven data infrastructure.
Building on the Andhra Pradesh DC Policy 4.0, the initiative seeks to convert major commitments such as Google’s 1-gigawatt (GW) and Sify Infinity’s 550 MW centres into rapid, on-ground development, employment generation, and investor-confidence-building efforts.
The council will provide recommendations on a time-bound execution roadmap that includes renewable-power integration, high-capacity fibre connectivity, dedicated data-centre parks, plug-and-play campuses, streamlined clearance mechanisms, and customised real-estate policies for hyperscale growth. Additionally, it will focus on talent development, cybersecurity resilience, and global investor outreach to achieve the 2030 target.
The council further features representation from leading global and domestic stakeholders across the data-centre ecosystem: Microsoft Azure (cloud and AI), NTT Global Data Centers India, and ST Telemedia GDC (global operators); Cushman & Wakefield and Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) (real estate and land advisory); Pi Data Centers (state ecosystem); Schneider Electric (power and cooling); and Jio Platforms (connectivity).
Moreover, policy and ecosystem support will come from the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), Data Security Council of India (DSCI), Internet Service Providers Association of India (ISPAI), and Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA), while Andhra University, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Visakhapatnam, and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Tirupati will contribute academic and research expertise.
Resilience and security efforts will be bolstered by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), Andhra Pradesh Technology Services (APTS) (state cyber security operations centre), and Andhra Pradesh State Fibre Net Limited (APSFL), ensuring secure and scalable expansion.
The council will function through domain-specific sub-committees and task forces, supported by a secretariat comprising officials from the Information Technology, Electronics and Communications Department and the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (APEDB), with technical coordination by Primus Partners. This framework will facilitate synchronisation between decision-making, utilities, and project timelines, accelerating the conversion of anchor investments from Google and Sify into operational capacity.
