India's Data Center Market Poised for Rapid Growth; Anant Raj, RailTel, and Bajel Projects Highlighted

The Indian data center market is experiencing robust growth, estimated by Mordor Intelligence to reach US$ 21.8 billion by 2030, up from US$ 10.11 billion in 2025, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16.61%. This expansion is fueled by increasing digital consumption, widespread cloud adoption, the rollout of 5G technology, advancements in AI/ML workloads, and government programs like Digital India, alongside data localization requirements. Companies operating within or entering this vital sector are well-positioned to benefit from favorable demographics and government support.

Three companies are highlighted for their strategic moves:

1. **Anant Raj**: A real estate and infrastructure firm investing US$ 2.1 billion in data centers. Its technology parks are being equipped with significant IT load capacity, with operational and planned expansions in Manesar, Panchkula, and Rai. The company has also launched 'Ashok Cloud', a sovereign cloud platform.

2. **RailTel Corporation of India**: A Navratna public sector undertaking diversifying into data centers and cybersecurity. It is partnering to build edge data centers at 102 locations and establishing a 10 MW data center in Noida. RailTel has also signed MoUs with entities like Anant Raj and L&T for colocation and managed services.

3. **Bajel Projects**: Formerly the EPC segment of Bajaj Electricals, it has incorporated data center electrification into its 'RAASTA 2030' roadmap. It is already involved in designing and constructing substations for colocation data centers and aims to scale its presence in power infrastructure and emerging sectors.

Impact: This news highlights a significant growth trajectory for India's data center market, signaling strong investment potential and expansion opportunities for companies involved in digital infrastructure. This could attract considerable investor interest, potentially leading to upward price movements for the featured companies and others in the sector. Rating: 8/10.

Difficult Terms: CAGR: Compound Annual Growth Rate, the average annual growth rate of an investment over a specified period. AI/ML: Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, technologies enabling computers to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. Digital India: A government initiative to make digital services accessible to citizens. Data localisation mandates: Regulations requiring data to be stored within a country's borders. IT load capacity: The maximum electrical power a data center can supply to its IT equipment. MW: Megawatt, a unit of power. FYXX: Fiscal Year XX, the financial year ending in that year. IaaS: Infrastructure as a Service, a cloud computing model providing virtualized computing resources. PaaS: Platform as a Service, a cloud computing model offering a platform for developing applications. SaaS: Software as a Service, a cloud computing model distributing software applications over the internet. NCR: National Capital Region, the urban area surrounding Delhi. Navratna PSU: A status for Indian state-owned enterprises granting them greater autonomy. Edge data centers: Smaller, localized data centers to reduce latency. Colocation: Renting space in a data center to house IT equipment. Managed services: Outsourced IT services. Kavach: An indigenous Automatic Train Protection system for Indian Railways. EPC: Engineering, Procurement, and Construction, a project delivery method. GIS: Gas Insulated Switchgear, a compact type of high-voltage switchgear.