AirTrunk, the data center operator backed by Blackstone, announced on Thursday its commitment to invest $30 billion in India by 2030. This substantial pledge contributes to a growing trend of technology and infrastructure firms aiming to significantly expand computing capacity within the country.
The Australian company further detailed its plans to develop 5 gigawatts (GW) of new data center capacity in India, marking one of the most significant commitments to the South Asian nation's burgeoning digital infrastructure sector. AirTrunk initiated its entry into the Indian market earlier this year through the strategic acquisition of Lumina CloudInfra.
AirTrunk's considerable investment underscores India's increasing attractiveness as a prime location for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, as technology companies and investors actively seek new geographies to augment their computing capabilities. Research firm Bernstein projects that India's overall data center capacity is set to surge from approximately 1.5 GW today to as much as 8 GW by 2030.
The Indian government has proactively implemented measures to draw investment into AI infrastructure. Earlier this year, New Delhi introduced tax exemptions for foreign cloud providers, valid until 2047, for services sold overseas, provided those workloads are processed from data centers located within India.
AirTrunk has already commenced preliminary work for its expansion within the country. Earlier this week, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis shared on X that the western Indian state had exchanged a letter of intent for land allotment at the Raigad Pen Growth Center. Here, AirTrunk is planning a 3 GW data center, representing an investment of around ₹2 trillion (approximately $21 billion). The company also maintains an existing development pipeline of approximately 600 megawatts (MW) across key cities including Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
AirTrunk did not provide responses to inquiries regarding whether the proposed Raigad project would constitute the majority of the planned 5 GW capacity, or if it intends to pursue additional developments in other regions of India.
This announcement follows a meeting between AirTrunk CEO Robin Khuda and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prime Minister Modi, in a post on X, stated that the planned investment would significantly bolster India's standing as a global hub for cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
AirTrunk joins an expanding roster of prominent companies investing in India's infrastructure. International giants such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Uber have declared major investments in cloud and AI infrastructure. Concurrently, leading Indian enterprises including Reliance Industries, Adani Group, and TCS have outlined ambitious strategies to expand their data center capacity.
However, the operation of data centers demands substantial quantities of electricity, water, and land. Industry executives and analysts have consistently highlighted resource availability, particularly concerning power supply, as a potential bottleneck for future growth.
Deloitte estimates that data center build-outs across the Asia Pacific region could necessitate tens of terawatt-hours of additional electricity by the close of the decade.
AirTrunk CEO Robin Khuda affirmed that the company's investment strategy is firmly anchored by robust government support, a vast pool of skilled technical talent, and access to renewable energy sources.
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