AirTrunk commits $30 billion to build 5GW of AI data centers in India by 2030

AirTrunk Investment in India Marks Major AI Infrastructure Push

AirTrunk, the Blackstone-backed data center operator, has announced plans to invest $30 billion in India by 2030, marking one of the largest commitments to India's digital infrastructure sector 1

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. The Australian company will develop 5 gigawatts of data center capacity across multiple states and union territories, supporting the country's expanding AI infrastructure needs 3

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. This massive investment, backed by both Blackstone and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), underscores India's growing appeal as a destination for cloud computing and artificial intelligence development.

Strategic Entry Through Lumina CloudInfra Acquisition

AirTrunk entered the Indian market earlier this year through its acquisition of Lumina CloudInfra in April 2026, which provided the company with an initial development pipeline of 600 megawatts distributed across Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad 2

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. The announcement followed a visit by AirTrunk founder and CEO Robin Khuda to India, during which he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and state ministers in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh 3

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. These discussions centered on securing reliable and cost-effective power, renewable energy access, sustainable water supplies, and streamlined regulatory approvals.

India Data Centers Capacity Set to Surge

The commitment comes as data center capacity in India is projected to rise to as much as 8GW by 2030 from approximately 1.5GW today, according to research firm Bernstein 1

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. Earlier this week, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the western Indian state had exchanged a letter of intent for land allotment at the Raigad Pen Growth Center, where AirTrunk is planning a 3GW data center involving an investment of approximately ₹2 trillion, around $21 billion 1

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. The planned 5GW capacity expansion is expected to generate tens of thousands of jobs across development, construction, and operational phases, while attracting significant cloud and AI investment 2

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Government Support Drives AI-Driven Growth

The Indian government has taken active steps to attract investment in AI infrastructure and position the country as a global hub for cloud computing and AI. Earlier this year, New Delhi offered foreign cloud providers tax exemptions through 2047 on services sold overseas if those workloads are run from India data centers 1

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. AirTrunk cited India's flagship digital programs, including the IndiaAI Mission, which carries over ₹10,000 crore ($1.2 billion) in funding, and the ₹76,000 crore ($9 billion) India Semiconductor Mission, as factors strengthening the investment case 3

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. Prime Minister Modi welcomed the announcement, calling it among the largest proposed investments in India's digital infrastructure ecosystem.

Competition and Resource Challenges Ahead

AirTrunk joins a growing list of companies investing in infrastructure in the country. Amazon, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Uber have announced major investments in cloud and AI infrastructure, while Indian companies Reliance Industries, Adani Group, and TCS have laid out ambitious plans to expand data center capacity 1

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. However, data centers require vast amounts of electricity, water, and land, and industry executives have pointed to resource issues as a potential bottleneck, particularly regarding power. Deloitte estimates data center build-outs in the Asia Pacific could require tens of terawatt-hours of additional electricity by the end of the decade 1

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. Robin Khuda noted that AirTrunk's investment thesis is underpinned by government support, a large pool of technical talent, and access to renewable energy, stating that "capital is mobile, and India is creating the conditions for it to thrive" 4

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. The company's focus on India's digital economy reflects confidence that the country has the scale, talent, and ambition required to become a global AI powerhouse.