On November 7, w.media is coming back with the fifth edition of Mumbai Cloud & Datacenter Convention (CDC) and South Asia Awards. The day-long event will be held at Hotel Sahara Star, Mumbai, and will bring together industry experts and thought leaders, including C-level executives, digital infrastructure professionals including architects, engineers and consultants (AECs), key buyers, decision makers, data center owners and operators from across India.
The Convention will culminate in a glittering awards ceremony where w.media will honour excellence and expertise of data center providers and industry professionals from South Asia across three key areas: People, Planet and Projects.
Before we share what you can expect from Mumbai CDC, let us quickly take a look at Mumbai itself – specifically, its digital infrastructure landscape.
What makes Mumbai special?
India’s data center industry is poised for explosive growth, with capacity projected to surge 77 percent by 2027, reaching a staggering 1.8 GW, according to a JLL report titled Indian Data Centre Market Dynamics.
As the largest data center market in India, Mumbai and its adjacent areas like Navi Mumbai, and the Bhiwandi-Taloja and Thane-Belapur industrial belts, account for half of the country’s data center capacity. Mumbai is at the heart of India’s digital transformation story poised to account for nearly 800 MW of capacity by the end of this year.
Today, Mumbai is home to over three dozen data centers by national and internal players such as Amazon Web Services, Adani ConneX, Colt Data Services, CtrlS Datacenters, Equinix, Nxtra by Airtel, NTT, Reliance, Sify Infinit Spaces, ST Telemedia Global Data Centers, and Yotta Data Services, among others.
A recent report by Cushman & Wakefield has listed Mumbai as a “powerhouse” data center market alongside Tokyo, Beijing, Johor, Sydney and Shanghai. The report titled Asia Pacific Data Center H1 2025 Update finds that Mumbai maintains its position as “India’s largest and most dynamic data center market, demonstrating sustained momentum in both operational capacity and development activity.” It further finds that over the past six months, the city added approximately 52MW to its live data center stock. “With around 180MW of the 337MW currently under construction slated for completion within the next six months, Mumbai’s total operational capacity is projected to reach nearly 800MW by the end of 2025 – provided developments proceed as scheduled.”
Meanwhile, a recent report by Knight Frank, has named Mumbai as a “Momentum Market” showcasing how it is not only the largest data center market in India, it is also still growing, with new facilities being built not only in the main city, but also in its suburbs and adjacent areas. Knight Frank’s Global Data Centers Report published earlier this year finds that large-scale colocation deals are driving the expansion of Mumbai’s availability zones (AZs).
This is in line with findings of other prominent industry watchers as well. For example, CBRE’s Asia Pacific Data Centers Trends & Opportunities Report 2025 found that “expansion by foreign hyperscale cloud companies and investors is fueling supply growth in Mumbai,” and that as of end 2024, live IT capacity in Mumbai stood at 667 MW with another 635 MW under construction.
Similarly, JLL’s report titled India Data Center Market Dynamics also found that there was a sharp 51 percent year-on-year rise in demand in H2 2024 of about 122 MW across India, which was met with supply. Mumbai accounted for nearly half the supply during this period.
Another recent report titled The digital backbone: Data center growth prospects in India by Colliers also found that “At the city level, Mumbai continued to account for the majority of the DC capacity with 41 percent share,” and that Mumbai drove 44 percent of data center capacity additions since 2020.
What awaits you at Mumbai CDC
We have a stellar line-up of speakers who will engage in several power-packed panel discussions, and share their ideas on important subjects such as the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS), Liquid Cooling, evolution of data center technology and infrastructure, increased automation, and much more.
Kaustubh Dhavse (Chief Advisor to Chief Minister, Government of Maharashtra), Bimal Khandelwal (CEO, ST Telemedia Global Data Centers, India), Anbu Shanmugham (COO, Digital Connexion), Sujit Panda (COO, BDx Datacenters), Gautam Saraf (Executive Managing Director, Mumbai & New Business, Cushman & Wakefield), Rachit Mohan (Executive Director, JLL), Sreejith G (Sr. VP – Operations, ST Telemedia Global Data Centers, India), Syed Mohamed Beary (Founder & Chairman, Bearys Group), Narendra Sen (Founder & CEO, RackBank), Jagat Ram (Head – Datacenter, Operation & Delivery, L&T), as well as industry experts like Prashant Tiwari (Director – India, Sudlows Consulting), NK Singh (CEO, Datacenter Guru), NK Jain (Founder NK Jain Consulting Engineers) among others.
Speaking to w.media’s Editor-in-Chief on Deep Dive podcast in a special episode titled What, where, why and how: Strategies for making India an AI superpower in the run-up to Mumbai CDC, industry leaders expressed enthusiasm surrounding India’s AI ambitions.
“We have sovereign cloud infrastructure, we have AI cloud infrastructure, we have scale,” says Rajesh Garg, President & Group CIO, Yotta Data Services. “There is nothing stopping us from exporting this skill and expertise that is not available in some parts of the world.” He further says, “AI should be able to transform or amplify human potential, where technology is able to serve as a force multiplier for inclusion, innovation and national growth.”
“I think we are very well placed when it comes to AI,” says Balakrishnan R, VP and Head, MEP Design, Larsen & Toubro (Buildings & Factory IC) echoing the sentiment. Given the disruptive and dynamic nature of AI as an emerging technology, and its impact on how we design and build “future-ready” data centers, he advises, “Look at modularity and flexibility.”
Data center industry veteran Sandeep Dandekar attempts to add a touch of humanity to technology by making two key points about digital infrastructure and AI. “It is just like the human body, with all organs in place. Now what we need to work towards, is an efficient, and resilient nervous system,” says Dandekar, comparing India to the human body, with land, resources and manpower as its various organs, and digital infrastructure representing its nervous system. “AI has a huge potential to transform lives,” he says, but also advocates for its ethical use by comparing it to a newborn child. “Everyone is overjoyed when a new baby is born into a family. But after the initial euphoria subsides, we have to ensure that the child is raised with the right values and grows up into a good human being.”
Welcome to CenterStage
This year, the Mumbai Cloud & Datacenter Convention (CDC) will also see the second edition of CenterStage, a special breakaway session that will be held in the Expo Hall. It is a series of technology presentations, fireside chats and discussions, where industry experts come together as friends and fellow professionals to examine the myriad challenges facing the industry today. CenterStage takes place in a more relaxed environment to enable the free flow of innovative solutions and out-of-the-box ideas.
“I’m delighted to be part of the Mumbai CDC, a platform that brings together visionary leaders shaping the future of digital transformation,” says Gaurav Duggal, Svp, Jio who will be attending the event and participating as a speaker at CenterStage. “What excites me most is the opportunity to exchange ideas on how emerging technologies like Agentic AI are redefining industries. I look forward to insightful discussions and collaborative innovation that can drive meaningful impact across sectors.”
“AI is shaping the future, but true progress depends on who controls the technology, data, and cost behind it. At Utho, we’re building India’s own sovereign AI cloud to ensure businesses never face lock-ins, unpredictable bills, or loss of autonomy,” says Manoj Dhanda, Founder & CEO, Utho Cloud, who will also be speaking at CenterStage. “In an era where many have struggled with hyperscaler dependencies and rising costs, sovereignty isn’t just national – it’s business-critical.” He further says, “I’m looking forward to meaningful conversations with fellow industry leaders about how we can reclaim control — of our technology, data, and costs — and shape an AI-powered future that’s sustainable, open, and truly sovereign.”
To enable more meaningful engagement and networking, w.media is also going to host a series of round-table conversations targeting a variety of sectors including but not limited to manufacturing, OTT, banking and financial services etc. We will also feature a technology expo that will showcase the latest innovations and futuristic technologies and advancements in the cloud and data center industry. Moreover, we will be unveiling the CDI Index, a list of some of the most influential thought leaders in the digital infrastructure industry across South Asia.
“Every year, we aim to deliver something bigger and better at Mumbai CDC. This time, we expect at least 1,500 delegates,” says Naveen Lawrence, Managing Director – South Asia & Middle East, w.media. “But it isn’t just about quantity; our quality lies in our carefully curated content. Our panel discussions, fireside chats and presentations – all enable some of the brightest minds in the industry as well as representatives of relevant regulatory authorities – to share their wisdom. We are creating an experience that enables knowledge sharing and networking.”
A word from our sponsors
The Mumbai Cloud & Datacenter Convention would not be possible without our generous sponsors, many of whom have also previously sponsored our conferences and conventions.
“w.media’s convention is the premier destination for hyperscalers, colocation providers, and enterprise IT leaders to connect and explore scalable solutions for high-performance computing and digital transformation,” says Venkatraman Swaminathan, VP, Schneider Electric. “In partnership with w.media, Schneider Electric reaffirms its commitment to India’s gigawatt-scale data center ambitions, addressing critical challenges such as energy efficiency, resilience, and sustainability.”
BS Basanth, Head, Multi Tenant Data Center Solutions, Wesco Anixter, says, “The event offers a focused view into where the data center industry is heading. We use it to understand how operators are planning capacity and scaling networks. It’s also a space to learn what’s working — and what’s not — in the field. These insights help us refine our approach to supply chain and technical support. It’s about staying relevant and responsive to the people building tomorrow’s infrastructure.”
“FläktGroup is pleased to take this opportunity and collaborate with W.Media in convening industry leaders and innovators who are shaping the future of digital infrastructure. Our participation in the Mumbai CDC marks the second in a global series of data center conventions, underscoring our commitment to advancing sustainable cooling and air management solutions,” says Gajanan Manjaramkar, DC Business Head, FläktGroup. “At Mumbai CDC, we look forward to engaging with partners, exchanging insights, and exploring opportunities that will accelerate India’s rapidly growing data center market—particularly in the western region, where FläktGroup is expanding its presence.”
“I am looking forward to this annual industry leading event which helps to put India on the global data center map,” says Asim Ansari, Director & General Manager – Colocation, MENA & APAC, Airedale by Modine.
“The previous event delivered exactly what we needed—quality networking, meaningful partnership opportunities, and excellent brand visibility,” said a spokesperson for Technavious. “As a design and engineering services provider in the data center space, connecting with the right people is crucial to our growth. We’re returning with high expectations: to deepen industry relationships, explore new collaborations, and continue raising awareness of our capabilities. This event has proven to be an essential platform for staying competitive and connected in our rapidly evolving sector.”
“At Murata, we are proud to sponsor and participate in Mumbai CDC 2025, a platform that brings together key stakeholders driving the evolution of India’s digital infrastructure,” said a spokesperson for Murata. “The event provides an excellent opportunity to engage with industry leaders, share insights, and strengthen partnerships within the growing datacenter ecosystem. As AI adoption accelerates, Murata remains committed to delivering innovative and energy-efficient power technologies that enhance scalability, reliability, and sustainability — supporting India’s journey toward a smarter and greener digital future.”
To find out more about Mumbai CDC 2025 or to check out our agenda, write to us at [email protected]