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AI-driven data centres: Shaping India’s digital future – CRN

Rajesh Goenka

By Rajesh Goenka, CEO, Rashi Peripherals Limited                                     

India’s digital economy is expanding at an unprecedented rate, with the increasing adoption of cloud services, internet-enabled platforms, and government-backed initiatives like Digital India. As data becomes the lifeblood of this digital transformation, the demand for efficient and scalable infrastructure has grown. AI-driven data centres are emerging as the backbone of India’s digital ecosystem, addressing key challenges such as efficiency, sustainability, and scalability.

Today, businesses rely heavily on data to augment their operations. AI-driven data centres have the potential to fulfill their needs and facilitate their operations. This makes it necessary to shift from traditional to AI-driven data centres .

The surge of data and its infrastructure needs

India’s digital shift is being powered by various factors—cloud computing, the proliferation of smart devices, and the roll-out of 5G technology. With over 1.4 billion people, the volume of data generated by industries such as e-commerce, healthcare, education, and finance is immense. Managing this explosive growth of data requires not only physical infrastructure but also advanced capabilities to optimise its storage, processing, and access.

Traditional data centres , which rely heavily on manual intervention, are becoming inadequate to meet modern demands. AI-driven data centres , however, use intelligent algorithms to enhance efficiency and security while reducing operational costs. They are expected to play a critical role in the years to come by serving as the backbone of India’s digital future.

What are AI-driven data centres?

The fast emerging trends, such as digitalisation, rapid adoption of cloud computing, rise in investment in AI research and development, and focus on sustainability, are driving the growth of the AI-driven data centre market in India. According to an industry report, India’s data centre market value is expected to increase from US$ 4.5 billion in 2023 to a projected US$ 11.6 billion by 2032, boasting a CAGR of 10.98%.

AI-driven data centres integrate artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to optimise various aspects of data management and infrastructure operations. These data centres deploy AI models for tasks such as predictive maintenance, energy optimisation, workload management, and security management. These data centres are powered by machine learning, data analytics, and automation, making them self-regulating and capable of handling massive workloads with greater efficiency.

Catalysing India’s digital future

AI-driven data centres are transforming multiple facets of India’s digital economy and public infrastructure. Below are some key areas where they are making a significant impact:

  • Enabling smart governance and public services

Government services are increasingly moving to digital platforms, with projects like Aadhaar and DigiLocker revolutionising citizen services. AI-driven data centres enhance the capacity of these platforms by ensuring high availability, seamless access, and secure storage of personal data. They support large-scale applications, helping government departments process millions of transactions efficiently while maintaining data integrity.

Additionally, these data centres facilitate real-time analytics for public policy interventions. For example, health data can be aggregated from multiple sources to predict disease outbreaks, enabling faster responses.

  • Boosting the start-up ecosystem and cloud economy

India’s start-up ecosystem, particularly in fintech, healthtech, and e-commerce, relies heavily on cloud services for agility and scalability. AI-driven data centres are crucial for delivering cloud solutions that are reliable and cost-effective. Start-ups can leverage AI-enabled infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) platforms to innovate rapidly without worrying about complex hardware management.

Moreover, with AI-driven optimisation, data centres can offer competitive pricing, allowing smaller enterprises to access high-quality services at lower costs, thereby democratising technology access.

  • Driving sustainability and green initiatives

One of the major challenges for data centres is energy consumption, which accounts for a large carbon footprint. AI-driven centres tackle this by optimising energy usage through smart cooling systems, dynamic power distribution, and predictive maintenance. This aligns with India’s ambitious goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.

AI systems can predict and manage power demand, switching to renewable energy sources whenever possible. Such initiatives promote sustainable practices, ensuring that India’s digital growth does not come at the expense of environmental degradation.

  • Enhancing cybersecurity in the digital age

As India becomes increasingly connected, the risk of cyberattacks grows. AI-driven data centres provide an added layer of protection by using AI-based threat detection models that can identify unusual patterns and mitigate threats in real time. This is essential for industries such as banking and healthcare, where data breaches can have severe consequences.

Through automation, these centres reduce human intervention, minimising the scope for human error and enhancing compliance with regulatory frameworks like the Personal Data Protection Act.

Overcoming challenges

Despite their potential, AI-driven data centres face certain challenges. High capital expenditure is a significant barrier, as setting up advanced data centres involves substantial investment in hardware, software, and skilled personnel. Furthermore, talent shortages in AI and data analytics could slow down adoption. However, government policies and incentives to attract investment in digital infrastructure are gradually easing these hurdles.

Collaborations between industry players and government are also helping address the skills gap. Initiatives like the National Program on AI and various skilling programs aim to produce a workforce capable of managing AI-centric systems, ensuring sustainable growth.

Conclusion

AI-driven data centres are poised to play a transformative role in shaping India’s digital future. They will empower India to harness the full potential of the digital economy. Their contribution to sustainability and cybersecurity further cements their importance in building a resilient and inclusive digital infrastructure.

As India advances on its path toward becoming a global digital leader, AI-driven data centres will act as the invisible force ensuring that data is processed efficiently, stored securely, and accessed seamlessly. Investments in such infrastructure today will not only power the nation’s growth but also ensure it is sustainable and future-ready. In a world where data is the new oil, AI-driven data centres will be India’s refineries—transforming raw data into value and innovation.



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