India Plans Vast AI 'Data City'

- The project is geographically centered in Visakhapatnam (also known as "Vizag") and is designed as a comprehensive digital ecosystem spanning a 100-kilometer radius. This initiative goes beyond just data centers to include the manufacturing of servers, advanced cooling systems, and a full technology logistics network. - A major investor alongside Google is a joint venture between Reliance Industries, Brookfield, and Digital Realty, which is investing $11 billion to develop a 1-gigawatt AI-focused data center in Visakhapatnam. Other significant players establishing a presence include a partnership between Adani Enterprises and EdgeConneX (AdaniConnex) serving as a primary infrastructure partner, and Meta, which is reportedly building a 500 MW hyperscale data center campus in the area. - A key strategic driver for this initiative is the development of "Sovereign AI" capabilities, which emphasizes keeping data, computing infrastructure, and AI governance within India's national boundaries to ensure security, regulatory compliance, and strategic independence from foreign cloud providers. - The state government, led by IT Minister Nara Lokesh, is actively courting investment by offering significant incentives, such as land for major investors at a subsidized rate of one US cent per acre. Lokesh has been actively meeting with leaders from global tech companies like Intel and NVIDIA to attract investment in semiconductor manufacturing and AI research centers. - To power the massive energy needs of these data centers, the state has secured in-principle approval from the central government for six 1.2 GW nuclear power units in Kovvada. The overall goal is to establish six gigawatts of data center capacity. - The project includes the development of Visakhapatnam as a major landing point for submarine internet cables connecting India to Singapore and other global networks. This will create a new international subsea gateway on India's eastern coast, complementing existing landing stations in Mumbai and Chennai to enhance digital resilience and reduce latency. - The initiative is part of a broader vision for Andhra Pradesh to transition its economy by embedding AI into core sectors like governance, education, and healthcare. There's also a significant focus on workforce development, with the stated goal of having at least one AI professional in every family.