IndiaAI GPU providers may be allowed to sell compute to global firms, report says

The government is likely to let the 14 companies that won bids to supply GPUs under the Rs 10,372 crore IndiaAI Mission sell compute at commercial rates to buyers worldwide, Business Standard reports, citing unnamed government officials. One official said there is not enough uptake of GPUs in India yet, and that the request came from industry. The officials said the companies could not offer the subsidised government rates to global buyers. According to the report, in the latest bidding round the government will onboard 10,000 new GPUs and buy five years of GPU time from winning bidders, then provide it to startups, researchers and academia as they apply. Bidders include Jio Platforms, Tata Communications, Yotta, CtrlS, E2E Networks and NxtGen. The average lowest bid after the first three rounds was nearly Rs 115 per GPU hour, the report says. None of this has been officially announced.