A major Australia–India technology story is unfolding after Sydney-based data centre giant AirTrunk announced plans to invest US$30 billion (approximately A$46 billion) in India by 2030. The ambitious project will deliver more than five gigawatts of new data centre capacity, making it one of the largest proposed digital infrastructure investments in India’s history.
The announcement highlights India’s growing position as a global hub for artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital innovation. As demand for data storage and AI-powered technologies continues to surge worldwide, global investors are increasingly looking towards India as a key destination for future digital infrastructure development.
AirTrunk’s investment strategy follows its recent acquisition of Lumina CloudInfra, giving the company an established presence in India through projects planned across major technology centres including Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. The company now intends to significantly expand those operations over the coming years.
The scale of the investment reflects confidence in India’s rapidly growing digital economy. With hundreds of millions of internet users, a thriving startup ecosystem and increasing adoption of artificial intelligence technologies, India is emerging as one of the world’s most important digital growth markets.
The project is expected to support the infrastructure needed for next-generation technologies, including AI computing, cloud services, advanced analytics and digital business operations. Industry experts believe large-scale data centres will play a critical role in supporting economic growth as digital transformation accelerates across industries.
For Australia, the announcement represents a remarkable business success story. AirTrunk was founded in Sydney by Robin Khuda, who arrived in Australia as an international student before building one of the Asia-Pacific region’s leading technology infrastructure companies. His entrepreneurial journey has become an inspiration for many aspiring business leaders across Australia and beyond.
Today, AirTrunk operates some of the region’s most advanced hyperscale data centres and has attracted backing from major global investors. The company’s expansion into India demonstrates how Australian-founded businesses are increasingly influencing the future of technology infrastructure on a global scale.
The investment also reflects the evolving nature of Australia–India relations. While education, trade and resources remain important pillars of the partnership, emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and innovation are becoming increasingly significant areas of collaboration.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the announcement, describing it as a positive step for India’s digital economy and technological development. The investment is expected to create jobs, strengthen digital capabilities and support India’s ambitions of becoming a global leader in technology and innovation.
For Indian-Australians, the project represents more than a business transaction. It highlights how talent, entrepreneurship and investment can strengthen connections between two nations that are becoming increasingly important partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
As the global economy becomes more dependent on data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence, investments like AirTrunk’s are helping shape the infrastructure of the future. The project stands as a powerful example of how Australian expertise and Indian opportunity are coming together to drive innovation, economic growth and technological progress for decades to come.
