Bharti Airtel has partnered with Google to establish India’s first mega AI hub and data center in Visakhapatnam. Google plans to invest approximately $15 billion (USD) over five years (2026-2030) in the project. Airtel and Google will jointly establish a purpose-built data center and a state-of-the-art Cable Landing Station. This partnership aims to boost digital infrastructure and innovation across India.
Strategic AI Partnership
Bharti Airtel and Google have announced a strategic partnership to set up India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. This initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of AI across India and strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure.
Investment and Infrastructure
Google’s investment in the AI hub is approximately $15 billion (USD) over five years (2026-2030). This includes gigawatt-scale data center operations, supported by a subsea network and clean energy sources.
Airtel and Google will jointly establish a purpose-built data center in Visakhapatnam, along with a Cable Landing Station (CLS) to host Google’s new international subsea cables. Airtel will also develop an intra-city and inter-city fiber network as part of this project.
Expected Outcomes
The high-capacity, low-latency network is expected to deliver faster experiences to Google users and customers, enhance the resilience of India’s digital backbone, and promote digital inclusion and transformation across the country. This initiative aims to bring the benefits of AI to more people and businesses nationwide.
Executive Commentary
Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel Limited, stated that the partnership with Google is a defining moment in India’s digital future. He emphasized that combining world-class AI infrastructure with the nation’s talent will lay the foundation for India to become a leader in the AI-driven era.
Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, mentioned that meeting the demands of India’s AI Mission requires cutting-edge infrastructure, computational power, and connectivity. He added that working with Airtel will deliver next-generation AI services and create the essential digital backbone needed to power inclusive growth across India.
Source: BSE
