AirTrunk, one of the leading hyperscale data center operators in the Asia-Pacific region, has revealed ambitious plans to invest over $30 billion in India by 2030. This investment aims to establish more than 5 gigawatts of AI-ready data center capacity across various states and union territories.
This massive financial commitment, approximately INR 3,000 billion, marks one of the largest foreign investments in India’s digital infrastructure to date.
How is AirTrunk expanding its presence in India? AirTrunk’s entry into the Indian market occurred just two months ago when it acquired Lumina CloudInfra in April 2026. This acquisition provided the company with an initial capacity pipeline of 600 megawatts situated in key cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
Following this, on June 1, 2026, AirTrunk signed a letter of intent for a transformative $21 billion project. This will establish a 3 GW data center campus in the Raigad Pen Growth Centre in Maharashtra, close to Mumbai, which represents the major portion of AirTrunk's commitment in India.
The recent announcement on June 5 integrates this investment into a broader national strategy. The CEO highlighted India’s favorable initiatives like Digital India and the IndiaAI Mission as significant drivers for this investment. Additionally, he recognized the nation’s vast talent pool and advancing renewable energy resources as pivotal elements of AirTrunk’s global strategy.
What background does AirTrunk have, and who supports it? Founded in 2015 by Robin Khuda, AirTrunk has established itself as a powerhouse in the hyperscale data center sector across the Asia-Pacific. In 2024, the company was acquired by Blackstone and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) for A$24 billion. This acquisition was noted as the largest global transaction for data centers at that time.
This investment initiative is expected to generate tens of thousands of jobs while bolstering local supply chains in India.
Why should investors pay attention to this development? The Indian data center market has been gradually evolving, but commitments of this scale indicate a significant shift. India presents a unique opportunity with a substantial domestic market for digital services, affordable labor cost for construction and operations, supportive government policies, and increasing access to renewable energy sources.
The competitive landscape will also be impacted. AirTrunk’s strategic entry adds pressure on existing data center operators, such as Adani Group’s AdaniConneX and Reliance’s Jio, among others, who are also expanding their capacities.
However, potential risks accompany this ambitious growth plan. Building 5 GW of capacity in just four years poses significant challenges. Issues regarding power grid infrastructure, water availability for cooling, land acquisition, and obtaining necessary regulatory approvals could hinder progress and require attention.
Given these factors, this investment is noteworthy for investors keeping an eye on emerging trends in India’s data center sector.