India has emerged as the leader in data center capacity among major Asia-Pacific (APAC) countries, excluding China, according to a report by real estate consulting firm CBRE South Asia Pvt. Ltd. The report, titled 'Asia Pacific Data Center Trends Q1 2024', states that India boasts a capacity of around 950 megawatts (MW), surpassing established players like Australia, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea.

This signifies a significant achievement for India's data center industry, which has witnessed remarkable growth, even doubling its capacity since the start of the pandemic. In 2023 alone, India added 255 MW of new data center space, bringing the total stock to approximately 1,030 MW by the end of that year.

The report further predicts a promising future for India's data center sector. Over the next three years (2024-2026), the country is expected to witness the highest capacity addition in the APAC region, with an anticipated growth of around 850 MW. This surge is likely driven by factors like increasing internet penetration, digitalization initiatives, and the growing adoption of cloud services.

Here's a quick look at how India compares to other major APAC countries in terms of data center capacity (as of Q1 2024):

1.India: 950 MW

2.Japan: 892 MW

3.Australia: 773 MW

4.Singapore: 718 MW

5.Hong Kong: 613 MW

6.South Korea: 531 MW

With its robust growth and strategic expansion plans, India is well-positioned to become a major data center hub in the APAC region. This growth is expected to benefit not only the digital economy but also create new job opportunities and attract investments in the technology sector.