Australian data centre operator AirTrunk has committed a substantial $30 billion to develop 5 gigawatts (GW) of data centre capacity in India by 2030. This investment marks one of the largest in India's digital infrastructure sector, positioning the country as a pivotal hub for global AI and cloud infrastructure.
Strategic Foothold in India
AirTrunk, backed by Blackstone and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), entered the Indian market by acquiring Lumina CloudInfra. This acquisition included a 600-megawatt development pipeline across Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad, providing a strategic foothold in one of the world's fastest-growing data centre markets.
"Capital is mobile, and India is creating the conditions for it to thrive," said AirTrunk founder and CEO Robin Khuda.
Government Support and Economic Impact
Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that such investments will bolster India's position as a global hub for cloud computing and AI. The initiative is expected to generate employment opportunities, support local supply chains, and accelerate innovation-led growth.
- Employment Opportunities: Significant job creation in tech and infrastructure sectors
- Local Supply Chains: Strengthening and supporting local businesses
- Innovation Growth: Accelerating advancements in AI and cloud technologies
Competitive Landscape
The announcement comes amid a wave of large-scale AI and data centre investments in India. Earlier this year, the Adani Group announced plans to invest $100 billion in renewable energy-powered, hyperscale AI-ready data centres by 2035.
| Company | Investment Amount | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| AirTrunk | $30 billion | AI and cloud infrastructure |
| Adani Group | $100 billion | Renewable energy-powered, AI-ready data centres |
Expert Insights
Tarun Pathak, research director at Counterpoint Research, noted that India's data centre capacity could expand nearly tenfold by 2030, driven by surging demand for AI and cloud services. He highlighted India's growing importance in the global AI infrastructure landscape.
- Current Capacity: Approximately 3% of global data centre capacity
- Projected Growth: Potential tenfold increase by 2030
India is increasingly viewed as a safe harbour for digital infrastructure investments amid geopolitical uncertainties, making it an attractive destination for global tech investments.
