Blackstone-Backed AirTrunk Expands Data Center Footprint in India Amid AI Boom

AirTrunk, backed by private equity giant Blackstone, is advancing plans to construct a data center in India, capitalizing on the country's 1.5 billion population and digitally savvy youth. The MOVE follows a AU$16 billion refinancing deal in August to bolster operations across Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore.

CEO Robin Khuda, speaking at the Forbes Conference in Sydney, framed AI investment as "the single-biggest Gold rush in human history." He emphasized Asia's insatiable demand for data infrastructure, noting ample room for both AirTrunk and competitors. "It’s not like there’s only one winner who will take home everything," Khuda remarked, while underscoring the sector’s need for hundreds of billions in capital to meet expansion goals.

The 2024 Blackstone-AirTrunk deal stands as the firm’s largest Asia-Pacific investment to date, though CEO Stephen Schwarzman recently warned of potential electricity shortages threatening AI-driven growth. Blackstone remains a dominant force in Indian infrastructure, signaling long-term confidence in the region’s digital economy.