India’s data center sector is set to attract significant investor attention in 2023, with a potential investment commitment exceeding $54 billion, according to real estate consultant CBRE. The forecast comes from CBRE’s ‘India Alternate Sectors Outlook 2026’, which indicates a projected 30% year-on-year increase in India’s total data center capacity, with an estimated 500 MW of new capacity to be added in 2026.
In 2025, the country’s data center capacity reached 1,700 MW, propelled by a record 440 MW of fresh supply. CBRE’s report also disclosed that investment commitments in the sector reached $56.4 billion in 2025 alone, accumulating to $126 billion. This year, these commitments are anticipated to surge by around 45%, potentially surpassing $180 billion.
Anshuman Magazine, Chairman and CEO of CBRE’s India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa operations, emphasized the sector’s shift towards large-scale execution rather than mere potential. He highlighted the sector’s resilience and appealing return prospects, making it an attractive focus for investors, particularly with substantial foreign capital involvement. Magazine noted that India’s data center market is becoming one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic in the Asia-Pacific region, driven by institutional momentum and expanding deployments.
The investment landscape is diversifying further, with states like Telangana, Maharashtra, and others leading the capital inflows. Reflecting the demand for reduced latency, 5G expansion, and data localization, data center operators are extending their investments beyond traditional metro areas to tier-II cities like Ahmedabad and Visakhapatnam.
Source: Tech-Economic Times