From Back End to Backbone: Mapping India’s Rise as a Data Center Hub

The rapid rise of generative AI has led to a global infrastructure transformation, accelerating demand for high-performance computing and next-generation data centers. As enterprises and governments invest in sovereign compute capabilities, India is emerging as a key player due to its expanding digital economy, progressive policy environment, and growing hyperscaler activity. This report explores how India’s data center ecosystem is evolving, from concentrated tier-1 city hubs to a more distributed, regionally balanced model aligned with AI demands.

However, not all regions are equally equipped to support dense, latency-sensitive AI workloads. Power availability, network infrastructure, land access, and environmental resilience vary widely across cities. To evaluate these differences, Everest Group introduces the CALIBER-DC framework, a comprehensive model that assesses regional data center readiness across key dimensions. This Viewpoint offers strategic insights for infrastructure developers, policymakers, and enterprises seeking to scale AI infrastructure in India.