Bharti Airtel, a leading global communications company, has signed a strategic alliance with Google to set up India’s first large-scale Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub and data centre campus in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. This milestone project marks a major step toward advancing India’s AI ambitions, enhancing the nation’s digital infrastructure, and bringing Google’s full suite of AI capabilities closer to Indian enterprises and consumers.
Valued at around USD 15 billion (₹1,064 billion) over 2026–2030, the initiative includes the development of gigawatt-scale data centre operations, backed by clean energy and an international subsea cable system to support high-performance AI computing needs. The campus will be built in partnership with AdaniConneX and other ecosystem collaborators.
As part of the project, Airtel and Google will set up a next-generation data centre and a Cable Landing Station (CLS) to host Google’s new subsea cables connecting India to its global digital network. Airtel will also develop extensive intra-city and inter-city fibre routes, enabling ultra-fast connectivity and improving the reliability of India’s digital backbone. This network will enhance user experiences, strengthen cloud infrastructure, and foster broader access to AI-driven services across the country.
Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel, said, “This partnership represents a defining leap for India’s digital evolution. By combining advanced AI infrastructure with India’s exceptional talent and expanding global connectivity, Visakhapatnam will emerge as a pivotal hub for innovation and growth in the AI era.”
Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, stated, “Delivering on India’s AI vision requires powerful infrastructure and widespread connectivity. Together with Airtel, we aim to bring world-class AI services and data capabilities to support inclusive digital growth across India.”
Headquartered in India, Bharti Airtel serves over 600 million customers across 15 countries in Asia and Africa. Ranked among the top three global mobile operators, Airtel offers a wide portfolio of services, including 4G/5G mobility, fibre broadband, cloud, cybersecurity, IoT, digital payments, and enterprise connectivity solutions. Through its digital arm, Xtelify, Airtel enables global telcos and enterprises to accelerate digital transformation using AI, data, and cloud technology.
Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. With platforms such as Search, Maps, YouTube, Android, Chrome, Google Cloud, and Google Workspace, Google supports billions of users worldwide and continues to expand access to technology and innovation. Google is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.
