Trader’s guide to India’s data centre boom powered by Google, OpenAI

Core Insights - Major US tech companies, including Google, are investing billions in AI infrastructure in India, prompting investors to seek local firms that will benefit from this investment wave [1][5] - The establishment of an AI ecosystem in India presents a significant opportunity within the country's $5.4 trillion market, which has lagged behind global equity rallies due to a lack of dedicated AI companies [2] Investment Opportunities - Investors are focusing on ancillary companies, such as equipment manufacturers and power generators, that will support the development of AI infrastructure. The data center market in India is expected to exceed $100 billion by 2027 [3] - A custom index tracking shares of 10 ancillary companies has increased over 30% since April, outperforming the benchmark NSE Nifty 50 Index during the same period [4] Major Players and Investments - Google plans to invest approximately $15 billion in an AI infrastructure hub in southern India, collaborating with local firms. Other tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon are also making substantial investments in AI and cloud computing in India [5][6] - Key beneficiaries include AdaniConneX, Bharti Airtel, and Reliance Industries, which together may represent 35%-40% of India's data center capacity by 2030 [6] Sector-Specific Insights - The electrical and power equipment sector is expected to see significant capital expenditure, with companies like Hitachi Energy India, Siemens, and ABB India being closely monitored [8] - The power sector is projected to benefit greatly from data center investments, with power costs accounting for about 40% of capital expenditure for these facilities [9] - Cooling solutions are critical due to the high energy consumption of AI workloads, with companies like Blue Star and Voltas providing necessary systems [11] Infrastructure Providers - Netweb Technologies India and E2E Networks are highlighted as key players in server and cloud infrastructure, with significant stock performance increases of 99% and 49%, respectively [12]