India’s Data Centre Capacity Quadruples to 1,500 MW as Submarine Cable Expansion Gathers Pace

India’s data centre capacity has grown from 375 MW in 2020 to over 1,500 MW in 2025, reflecting strong demand for digital infrastructure and data localisation, the government said on March 18.

The expansion comes amid a broader push aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to democratise access to technology and strengthen the country’s digital backbone. The government said it is focused on facilitating the establishment of data centres to improve the delivery of digital services across sectors.

Capacity remains concentrated in a handful of major hubs. Mumbai and Navi Mumbai account for the largest share at 790 MW, followed by Chennai at 305 MW. Bengaluru, Hyderabad and the Delhi-NCR region trail with 182 MW, 152 MW and 76 MW, respectively, while other cities such as Pune and Kolkata together account for 15 MW.

Alongside data centre growth, India is expanding its international connectivity through submarine cable infrastructure. Four new submarine cable systems are currently being commissioned at cable landing stations across the country by telecom operators. These include India Europe Xpress, SEA-ME-WE-6, 2Africa and Raman Cable, with landing points primarily in Mumbai and Chennai.

A further three cable systems—Wyasa, Indian Ocean Cable and WABAN—are in the planning stage, with applications submitted to the Department of Telecommunications. However, the government said it does not currently plan to establish new sub-sea gateways.

Regulatory measures have also supported domestic data storage. The Reserve Bank of India has mandated that all payment system data be stored within the country, reinforcing efforts to build a secure and trusted digital ecosystem.

The data was shared in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Electronics and IT Jitin Prasada.