Airtel’s Nxtra pioneers AI-driven smart data centres in India

Nxtra by Airtel, one of India’s leading data centre providers, has announced the successful deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in its operations, making it the first data centre company in India to integrate AI for smarter, more efficient data centre management. This development aligns with Nxtra's mission to build “future-ready” data centres that are both “Intelligent by Design and Sustainable by Choice”.

The move marks a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing efforts to enhance operational efficiency and sustainability. By leveraging the AI-powered SmartSense platform developed by Ecolibrium, a global leader in AI for infrastructure management, Nxtra aims to revolutionize its data centre operations, offering capabilities such as predictive maintenance, advanced automation, and improved energy efficiency.

Nxtra’s Chennai data centre has become the first to integrate this cutting-edge AI technology, with plans to expand the deployment across all core data centres in the near future. The SmartSense platform will provide Nxtra with real-time performance analytics and insights that will drive several operational efficiencies, including:

·       10% increase in asset life through early identification of wear and tear and predictive maintenance recommendations

·       10% reduction in non-IT power consumption by detecting energy inefficiencies and equipment malfunctions early on

·       15% improvement in equipment performance with AI-driven fault detection and diagnostics (FDD)

·       25% increase in operational productivity through proactive insights and intelligent automation across data centre operations

Ashish Arora, CEO, Nxtra, emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, “As a brand, we are always integrating newer ways to build future-ready and sustainable data centres with a vision to deliver superior customer experiences. The integration of AI with our data centres is a crucial step in advancing both energy efficiency and overall operational performance.”

The partnership between Nxtra and Ecolibrium brings together expertise in AI and infrastructure management, furthering Nxtra's commitment to environmental sustainability. Ecolibrium’s AI platform is already operational at over 500 sites worldwide across industries like real estate and manufacturing. This collaboration represents a new frontier in the data centre industry.

Chintan Soni, CEO, Ecolibrium, remarked, “By combining our AI/ML platform with Nxtra’s commitment to building environmentally friendly infrastructure, we are helping to redefine the operational standards for data centres. Together, we will advance energy efficiency, reduce operational costs, and enhance performance.”

This AI integration is part of Nxtra’s broader sustainability goals. The company has committed to becoming net-zero by 2031 through multiple initiatives, including adopting green energy sources, optimizing energy consumption across its data centres, and implementing sustainable business practices.

Nxtra currently operates India’s largest network of intelligent and sustainable data centres, with more than 120 locations serving a wide range of customers, from hyperscalers to government agencies. With plans to expand its capacity to over 400 MW in the coming years, Nxtra is set to become a key player in India’s rapidly growing digital infrastructure ecosystem.