As India races to become a global AI and data centre hub, Nxtra by Airtel is scaling from 300 MW to 1 GW, integrating Airtel's networks, subsea systems, cloud and cybersecurity capabilities. Ashish Arora, CEO, Nxtra, outlines the company's push toward sustainable, high-density, AI-ready infrastructure built on a net zero by 2031 commitment.
Building an Integrated Platform for India's AI Journey
Nxtra's role is going to be much more than just building data centres. We see ourselves as the digital infrastructure partner for India's AI journey, combining AI‑ready, sustainable data centre capacity with the power of Airtel's pan‑India networks, global subsea systems, and cloud and cybersecurity capabilities.
As India positions itself as a global hub for data centres and AI infrastructure, our ambition is to lean in and scale with discipline. We are investing to move from roughly 300 MW today to 1 GW over the next few years, and because of Airtel's strengths in connectivity, subsea capacity and security, we can do this in a way that is highly differentiated, not just in racks and MWs, but as an integrated platform that helps Indian and global customers build and run AI workloads reliably, securely and at scale. Sustainability is central to our growth strategy. With our net zero by 2031 commitment, RE100 membership, SBTi-aligned targets, and the deployment of AI to optimise energy consumption across our facilities, we are ensuring that as we scale to power India's AI future, we do so responsibly. This is the benchmark we aim to set, not just for Nxtra, but for the industry.
What really differentiates us is the integration. Nxtra is deeply woven into Airtel's fibre, 5G and edge footprint, subsea cables and cable landing stations, and our cloud and cybersecurity platforms. That means we can offer customers a single, seamless fabric, from the device at the edge and the data centre core to the cloud, with low‑latency connectivity, secure interconnects and end‑to‑end visibility.
Driving Sustainability through AI-Optimised Energy Efficiency
At Nxtra, sustainability is a core pillar of our growth strategy. As we invest in the next generation of digital infrastructure and scale towards 1 GW of capacity, we are guided by ambitious yet actionable commitments: Net Zero by 2031, 100% renewable energy through RE100, and SBTi-aligned climate targets. These principles shape every decision we make, ensuring that the infrastructure powering India's digital future is built responsibly, efficiently, and sustainably.
Our facilities are intelligently designed with modular architecture, liquid-ready cooling for high-density GPU workloads, and resilient low-carbon power systems. They incorporate energy-efficient technologies such as cold aisle containment, free cooling, and AI/ML-driven thermal optimisation to maximise efficiency and performance. We are also among the first data center operators in India to deploy AI-driven energy optimisation, enabling predictive operations, dynamic cooling, and proactive maintenance to reduce energy consumption, while leveraging AI-driven optimisation to enhance operational efficiency and lower PUE.
Preparing for Explosive Growth in AI-Ready Capacity
Demand for AI‑ready data centers in India is exploding. Industry estimates suggest that over the next few years, the country's overall data center capacity will grow by 30-40 per cent annually, with AI and high‑density workloads taking a larger share of the pie, overtaking even enterprise IT workloads.
Customers today are no longer just asking for basic space and power; they want scalable, GPU‑ready capacity with the right power, cooling and connectivity guarantees. There are already many announcements of huge investments by large conglomerates and public cloud players.
With the capacity demand surging, at Nxtra, we are ensuring to stay ahead of the curve by building high‑density, AI‑ready campuses with clear headroom to keep adding capacity as India's AI needs scale up.
