AirTrunk plans to invest more than US$30 billion in India by 2030, marking one of the largest proposed digital infrastructure programs currently under consideration in the country as demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing continues to grow.
The Sydney-founded data centre company, established by Bangladesh-born entrepreneur Robin Khuda and now backed by Blackstone and CPP Investments, announced the plan following meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior government officials.
The proposal would see AirTrunk develop around five gigawatts of new data centre capacity across multiple Indian states and union territories. The company said the investment would help support India’s ambitions to become a major destination for AI and cloud investment while creating jobs and strengthening local supply chains.
The announcement comes less than two years after AirTrunk was acquired by Blackstone and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board in a deal valued at more than A$24 billion, one of the largest technology transactions in Australian history.
Prime Minister Modi welcomed the proposal, “Such investments will strengthen India’s position as a global hub for cloud computing and AI, while generating employment opportunities, supporting local supply chains and accelerating innovation-led growth.”
A substantial portion of the planned investment is expected to flow into Maharashtra. Earlier this week, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that AirTrunk intends to develop a three-gigawatt data centre hub in the state involving approximately 2 trillion rupees in investment. The company has signed a letter of intent to acquire land in Raigad, near Mumbai, for the project.
India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing markets for digital infrastructure as businesses, governments and consumers increase their use of cloud services, artificial intelligence tools and data-intensive applications. Global technology companies have expanded their presence across the country in recent years, drawn by its large population, growing digital economy and expanding internet user base.
The proposal would see AirTrunk develop around five gigawatts of new data centre capacity across multiple Indian states and union territories
AirTrunk said its proposed development pipeline would support India’s efforts to attract technology investment while generating economic activity across the broader sector.
The company said the program could create tens of thousands of jobs during development, construction and operations, while encouraging greater participation by local suppliers and businesses. It also expects the investment to support the growth of cloud computing, AI and technology ecosystems that increasingly underpin economic productivity.
The move signals the growing importance of data centres as countries compete to secure the infrastructure needed for AI development. Demand for computing power has accelerated globally as companies race to deploy increasingly sophisticated AI models and digital services.
AirTrunk said digital infrastructure now plays a role comparable to transport and energy networks in previous generations of economic development.
Khuda, who founded AirTrunk in 2015 and helped build it into one of the Asia-Pacific region’s largest hyperscale data centre operators, said India was well positioned for future growth.
“Prime Minister Modi’s vision for India’s digital economy has helped create one of the world’s most compelling destinations for technology investment. India has the scale, talent, and ambition required to become a global AI powerhouse. AirTrunk is excited to support that vision through long-term and transformative investment, infrastructure development, community programs and partnership.”
The announcement follows a year of high-profile activity for Khuda. In February, through the Khuda Family Foundation, he pledged A$100 million to the University of Sydney to establish a long-term STEM education program for girls and women from Western Sydney. The donation, the largest philanthropic gift in the university’s history, later contributed to his inclusion in Forbes Asia’s 2025 Heroes of Philanthropy list.
With governments and technology companies investing heavily in AI infrastructure worldwide, AirTrunk’s proposed expansion into India highlights the country’s growing role in the next phase of global digital development.
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