Anthropic to Buy 1.4 GW Australian Data Centre Capacity
Anthropic, an artificial‑intelligence startup, is seeking to secure a minimum of 1.4 gigawatts of data‑centre capacity in Australia, with the total project cost estimated at up to US$15 billion. The company intends to have at least 1 GW of the capacity operational by the end of 2027, following the establishment of its Australian office earlier in 2026. Anthropic’s preferred strategy is to partner with a developer capable of constructing a large‑scale 1.4 GW‑plus data‑centre campus, while remaining open to jointly developing a suitable site if an existing one is not available. A confidential tender was issued to major Australian data‑centre operators—including CDC Data Centres, AirTrunk, Nextdc (ASX:NXT), Iren and Stack—with initial proposals submitted in March and shortlisted bidders meeting Anthropic executives in Canberra in April. The firm expects to reach a final decision within six weeks and may allocate the project across four or five providers rather than awarding it to a single developer.