India needs a moonshot in AI innovation: Sify Chairman and MD Raju Vegesna

Digital transformation is crucial for business development and artificial intelligence (AI) will enhance productivity and innovation, according to Raju Vegesna, Chairman and Managing Director of Sify Technologies, one of the largest private network and data centre providers in India.

He was speaking at the Tech Outcomes event organised by TechCircle on September 20-21, 2024, in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, and called India “a major centre for advancement, with government’s ambitious initiatives of integrating startups, 5G, AI, and cloud innovation”.

“While the Indian government aims to push digital efforts forward and companies are also maintaining competitiveness in the long term, we need to embrace Moonshot Innovation in the AI revolution,” he said at the event.  

Comparing the AI innovation to “the impact of the internet in the early days” he added that “AI is a progression of humankind, and hence it will continue to create new jobs, new opportunities, not take our jobs away”.

Vegesna is further optimistic about India's progress and the skills of its workforce, which attract investments and foster partnerships. These can benefit both businesses and the nation by creating jobs and improving living standards.

Vegesna also believes that despite geopolitical uncertainties, India remains resilient, supported by its talent pool and Sify is committed to advancing India's global presence, with Sify playing a key role in this journey. “As enterprises undergo digital transformation, they are reconfiguring their digital architecture across various domains, driven by customer experience, business continuity, cybersecurity, application modernisation, and AI enablement,” he said.

“Our significant infrastructure investments and diverse service portfolio are tailored to meet customer needs. We actively engage with clients to adapt our offerings to their evolving requirements,” he added.

Vegesna informed that Sify is expanding its data centre capabilities, evolving from an internet company to an AI-driven entity. AI and Machine Learning are essential for optimizing data center operations and the implementation of these technologies results in enhanced predictive analytics, automation, and more efficient resource management.

Speaking at the event, Sharad Agarwal, CEO of Sify Infinite Spaces Limited, stressed the importance of incremental disruption and innovation in overcoming business challenges, particularly through AI.

“Over time, the meaning of technology has evolved, encompassing computers, information technology, digital transformation, social media, cloud computing, and now AI,” he said adding that infrastructure is a form of technology, extending beyond just microprocessors. “At Sify, we tackle issues to build infrastructure and leverage AI for environmental sustainability.

The company plans to invest ₹9,000 crore over six years to expand its data centre presence, with ₹3,000 crore allocated for Chennai, Mumbai, Noida, and Bengaluru. The company has said that the Rabale data centre in Mumbai will increase its capacity by 38 MW and it will add two new facilities, each starting at 86 MW. An additional 100 MW will be invested in the next phase starting in 2025, followed by a final ₹3,000 crore investment after 2026.