Lightstorm Eyes IPO as it Expands Across Asia Pacific and Invests in AI Infrastructure

Lightstorm is positioning itself for its next phase of growth by combining regional expansion with major investments in digital infrastructure.  

The company’s plans reflect both the rising demand for AI ready networks and the changing importance of India in global connectivity routes.  

Why Lightstorm is Considering an IPO 

As per The Business Standard report, Lightstorm, a Singapore based private provider of fibre and cloud connectivity in India, is evaluating the possibility of an initial public offer (IPO) in the near term.  

According to Cofounder and Chief Executive Officer Amajit Gupta, the company is not looking at a listing only because it needs fresh capital. Instead, the idea is driven by value discovery and investor diversification. 

This becomes important because the company says its financial position remains healthy. It is profitable at the operating cash flow level and maintains a conservative debt to equity ratio. That gives it more flexibility as it weighs future funding options. 

How the Company is Building its Network 

Lightstorm currently operates across 120 data centres in seven countries, including India, the United States, Japan, Australia, Guam, Singapore, and other Southeast Asian markets.  

Its fibre footprint stands at about 50,000 km, with nearly 30,000 km in India and 21,000 km across the subsea Pacific. 

The company has already built landing stations in Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. It is now preparing additional infrastructure on both the east and west coasts of India to support new submarine cables expected over the next two to three years. 

Why AI is Shaping the Next Phase of Growth 

A major part of Lightstorm’s future strategy is linked to artificial intelligence. Gupta noted that compute and graphics processing unit capacity is growing at 40% to 50% annually, while connectivity is not expanding at the same pace. This gap creates a serious bottleneck. 

To address that, the company plans to invest a few hundred million dollars over the next 24 months in fibre, electronics, and software. The goal is to build networks designed for AI workloads rather than simply adapting older cloud systems. 

India’s Role in Global Internet Traffic 

Lightstorm also sees an opportunity in changing global traffic routes. With disruption in West Asia affecting the traditional India to Europe path through the Red Sea, some early signs suggest traffic may shift eastward through India and Southeast Asia. 

At the same time, the company has raised concerns over the concentration of submarine cable landing infrastructure near Chennai and Mumbai.  

It is exploring alternate locations such as Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and areas near Kolkata to reduce this risk and improve resilience. 

Read More: NSE Aims for Year-End IPO: Plans 4–5% Stake Sale! 

Conclusion 

Lightstorm’s plans show that it is thinking beyond conventional telecom expansion. It's possible IPO, Asia Pacific ambitions, and focus on AI ready connectivity suggest a company preparing for a much larger strategic role in digital infrastructure.  

As data demand rises and global internet routes evolve, Lightstorm appears keen to strengthen its position at the centre of that shift. 

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