NTT Data says equipment can take 42 weeks to obtain, while Brookfield expects demand to exceed supply beyond this decade.
Access to electricity and skilled workers is limiting the pace of AI data center construction, executives from NTT Data and Brookfield Asset Management told Bloomberg’s New Economy Forum in New Delhi on Tuesday.
NTT Data CEO Abhijit Dubey said shortages in electrical work, design and construction are a major obstacle. He said US electricians’ compensation can reach about $200,000 and obtaining suitable equipment can take up to 42 weeks.
Dubey said NTT is struggling to add AI capacity quickly enough to meet demand, although capital is available.
Brookfield Asset Management CEO Connor Teskey predicted that demand would exceed supply through the end of the decade and beyond. He said Brookfield remains selective because of the difficulty of completing projects.
Teskey argued that much of the infrastructure is supported by long-term contracts requiring payment and backed by major technology companies in the United States and Asia. He said construction execution is the central bottleneck.
Infosys CEO Salil Parekh identified public opposition to AI and data centers, particularly in Western markets, as another risk to the buildout. He called for balancing the economic push with communities’ responses.
