Lokesh lays foundation stone for AP’s first AI edge data centre
Sify setting up Rs1,500-cr data centre, which will create over 1,000 jobs, improve data exchange between India and Southeast Asian countries
image for illustrative purpose
Visakhapatnam: Visakhapatnam is fast emerging as India’s global digital gateway on the eastern seaboard, said Nara Lokesh, IT, Electronics and HRD Minister. He was speaking after the ground-breaking ceremony of Sify’s at Rushikonda IT Hills here on Sunday.
Sify Infinit Spaces Ltd is building the centre, which is Andhra Pradesh’s first 50MW AI-powered Edge Data Center and Open Cable Landing Station (CLS). The AP government has allotted 3.6 acres in Vizag.
“The foundation for Sify Technologies’ Rs1,500-crore AI Edge Data Center and CLS in Visakhapatnam, marking a new era in digital infrastructure This is just the first step with approvals for a mega data center already in place. This marks a defining moment in Andhra Pradesh’s digital journey and India’s path toward technological self-reliance,” said Lokesh.
Sify is a subsidiary of Nasdaq-listed Sify Technologies and India’s leading digital ICT solutions provider.
Raju Vegesna, chairman, Sify, said: “This marks a defining moment in Andhra Pradesh’s digital journey and India’s path toward technological self-reliance. We’re proud to enable Visakhapatnam’s transformation into a key hub for global connectivity and digital infrastructure, and to advance AI-led innovation at scale.”
The CLS Vizag will serve as a strategic landing point for submarine cables connecting India with Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and Thailand. The new CLS facility will strengthen India’s digital backbone by enabling seamless undersea cable connectivity and scalable AI compute capacity at the edge by bringing low-latency data processing closer to users in India and across the region.
Lokesh, who was instrumental in the decision of Google to set up a $10-billion data center in Visakhapatnam at three locations, considered the largest in Asia, is also holding talks with TCS to make another mega investment on a data center project in the city.
Adani Data Center envisaging an investment of Rs22,000 crore in the city may take off any moment. Meta is also contemplating heavy investment on undersea cable network, according to reports.
The Minister said Sify’s world-class infrastructure will not only strengthen the State’s position in the global technology map, but also catalyse new opportunities in innovation, employment, and investment.
The AI Edge Data Center will support AI-driven enterprises and digital infrastructure. The Edge Data Center will be interconnected via the OPGW substation and will be connected by atleast two fiber networks. According to Sify officials, the facility will engage a little more than 1,000 people during the construction and operational phases with resources drawn from a mix of technical and locally sources trained resources.
