Blackstone's AirTrunk to Build $3.33 Billion Melbourne Data Center
By Stuart Condie
SYDNEY--Blackstone-controlled AirTrunk will spend US$3.33 billion building its second Melbourne data-center, continuing its expansion across the Asia-Pacific region.
AirTrunk, which operates so-called hyperscale centers necessary to support global cloud computing and artificial intelligence services, on Wednesday said it had acquired a site for the center in the northwest of Australia's second largest city.
U.S.-listed asset manager Blackstone, partnering with Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, acquired AirTrunk last year in a deal that valued the company at about US$16 billion.
Blackstone has been playing the AI boom by investing in data centers and companies that support chip makers. It bought data-center operator QTS in 2021, and in 2023 signed a deal with Digital Realty to develop US$7 billion in data centers.
AirTrunk, which competes regionally with companies including ASX-listed NextDC, last week announced plans to construct a data center in Osaka, Japan. It now has 14 centers either operating or in development.
"Australia has set bold ambitions to become a global AI hub, and demand for AI ready infrastructure continues to grow," AirTrunk Chief Executive Robin Khuda said. "AirTrunk's strong balance sheet and proven regional track record help give global AI customers confidence in reliable, on-time deployment in Australia."
Write to Stuart Condie at stuart.condie@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 23, 2025 17:13 ET (22:13 GMT)
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