Earlier this year, BroadGroup completed a study showing that that greater competition for data center outsourcing will emerge in the coming years with significant incentive plans in development and data center expansions in the southern Mediterranean and North Africa, locations in Eastern Europe, the Baltics and the Nordic region. India was not mentioned among this list.

However, reflective of the focus the February study had on rising power costs and energy reduction processes and technologies in the data center industry, this recent report similarly discusses the idea that despite the growth of the data center market in India, power supply remains a critical challenge for the country.

Based on a study detailing the profiles of 34 players in India, both overseas and domestic, the report examines current availability, location and expansion plans. While growth is occurring at unprecedented levels, says the report, challenges remain, particularly those relating to infrastructure, the quality of power and land availability.

Fueled by offshoring and domestic demand, data centers have experienced significant growth in India and technical space is believed to more than double over the next two years.

"The scale and capacity of the international ambitions of the top five players is supported by significant and growing demand from the local market," says BroadGroup. "Although Global MNCs are becoming selective about the robustness of power supply, security and green credentials, overseas systems integrators and consultancies are sustaining and expanding their investments in India."

Although India's language capabilities, skill levels, culture and governance are suited to the country becoming a global hub, says the consultancy firm, data center builds will need to reflect the "green" standards being implemented by more and more companies. Data centers will also have to address how the infrastructure will cope with demands for high levels of power and disaster or data loss situations, as well as the challenge of cooling.

BroadGroup says this report is the first to assess a complex and fast changing market but one that contains significant opportunities for companies engaged in the sector from the operators themselves through to a huge business for air conditioning companies and UPS suppliers.