NEW DELHI: India’s digital infrastructure sector is poised for a significant transformation after Australia-based data centre company AirTrunk announced plans to invest approximately ₹3 lakh crore (around $30 billion) in the country. The proposed investment aims to develop 5 gigawatts (GW) of data centre capacity, making it one of the largest commitments ever made to India’s digital infrastructure ecosystem.
The announcement has drawn praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described the development as a major milestone in India’s rapidly expanding digital economy. In a post on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said India’s digital infrastructure journey is gaining remarkable momentum and highlighted the strategic importance of the investment.
“India’s digital infrastructure journey is gathering remarkable momentum. AirTrunk has announced plans to invest around Rs. 3 lakh crore ($30 billion) in India, and develop 5 GW of data centre capacity. This is among the largest proposed investments in the country’s digital infrastructure ecosystem,” PM Modi stated.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the investment would strengthen India’s role in the global technology landscape, particularly in emerging sectors such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence. According to him, the project will create substantial employment opportunities, support local supply chains, and accelerate innovation-driven economic growth.
He further noted that India is increasingly becoming a key player in shaping the future of the global digital economy. “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. It is clear that the future of the world’s digital economy is increasingly being shaped in India,” the Prime Minister added.
The proposed investment comes at a time when India is witnessing rapid growth in data consumption, digital services, artificial intelligence applications, and cloud-based infrastructure. Demand for large-scale data centres has surged due to expanding internet penetration, increasing smartphone usage, digital payments, e-governance initiatives, and the adoption of AI technologies across industries.
AirTrunk, one of the Asia-Pacific region’s leading hyperscale data centre operators, is expected to play a significant role in meeting the growing demand for digital infrastructure. The company specializes in developing and operating large-scale facilities that support cloud service providers, technology firms, and enterprises requiring extensive computing and storage capabilities.
The investment also reflects growing international confidence in India’s economic potential and digital transformation agenda. Global technology companies and infrastructure investors have increasingly viewed India as a strategic destination due to its large consumer market, skilled workforce, supportive policy environment, and expanding digital ecosystem.
Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, welcomed the development and highlighted it as a strong example of the deepening economic partnership between the two countries. Sharing details of his meeting with AirTrunk Founder and Chief Executive Officer Robin Khuda, Green underscored the significance of the proposed investment.
“Australian firm AirTrunk is powering India’s global tech ambitions. I met with AirTrunk’s Founder & CEO Robin Khuda to discuss their $30B data centre investment in India. A powerful example of the scale and ambition of Australia–India ties,” Green said.
The investment is expected to contribute significantly to India’s ambitions of becoming a global technology and innovation hub. Industry experts believe that large-scale data centre capacity will be essential for supporting next-generation technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud services, fintech platforms, and digital public infrastructure.
With governments and businesses increasingly relying on digital systems, the need for secure, reliable, and scalable data storage infrastructure has become critical. AirTrunk’s proposed expansion is expected to help address these requirements while supporting India’s long-term digital growth strategy.
As India continues to attract major global investments across technology and infrastructure sectors, AirTrunk’s ambitious commitment stands out as a landmark development. The project is expected not only to enhance digital capacity but also to reinforce India’s emergence as one of the world’s most important destinations for technology investment and innovation.
