Airtel and Google to build India’s first AI hub in Visakhapatnam with $15 billion investment

Bharti Airtel has announced a strategic partnership with Google to establish India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, a project that is expected to redefine the country’s digital infrastructure and accelerate the adoption of AI technologies nationwide.

The landmark initiative, unveiled on Monday, will bring Google’s full AI stack and consumer services closer to Indian businesses, while strengthening the nation’s data and connectivity backbone. The partnership underscores India’s growing importance in the global AI economy and aligns with the government’s vision of becoming a major hub for artificial intelligence innovation under the IndiaAI Mission.

The AI hub represents a multi-faceted investment of about $15 billion (USD) over a five-year period from 2026 to 2030. It will include gigawatt-scale data center operations, a robust subsea cable network, and clean energy infrastructure designed to handle the most demanding AI workloads within India. The project will be developed in collaboration with Airtel and AdaniConneX, combining the companies’ expertise in connectivity, cloud infrastructure, and renewable power.

As part of the initiative, Airtel and Google will jointly build a purpose-built hyperscale data center in Visakhapatnam, along with a state-of-the-art cable landing station (CLS) that will host Google’s new international subsea cables. These cables will connect India to Google’s extensive global network of terrestrial and subsea systems, ensuring high-capacity and low-latency connectivity.

 

Airtel will also deploy an expansive intra-city and inter-city fibre network to support the AI hub. This high-speed backbone will enhance user experience for millions of Google customers in India, boost the resilience of the nation’s digital infrastructure, and help extend the benefits of AI innovation to enterprises and communities across the country.

Calling the collaboration a “defining moment in India’s digital future,” Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel, said the project combines world-class AI infrastructure with India’s deep technology talent.

“By combining world-class AI infrastructure with our nation’s extraordinary talent and expanding global connectivity, we are laying the foundation for India to become a leader in the AI-driven era,” Vittal said. “With Visakhapatnam becoming a new hub on the world’s AI map, we are ensuring that India has the opportunity to set the pace for innovation, digital inclusion, and economic growth — not just for our people, but for the world.”

Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, said the partnership would help meet the country’s growing need for computational power and connectivity.

“Meeting the demands of India’s AI Mission requires cutting-edge infrastructure, computational power, and ubiquitous connectivity,” Kurian said. “Working with Airtel, we will deliver next-generation AI services and create the essential digital backbone required to power inclusive growth across India.”

The project is expected to play a crucial role in advancing India’s AI ecosystem — enabling large-scale deployment of AI solutions across sectors such as healthcare, education, finance, logistics, and manufacturing. It will also contribute to digital inclusion, ensuring that smaller enterprises and regional innovators gain access to the same AI infrastructure powering global technology leaders.

Industry analysts see the initiative as a strategic milestone in India’s technological evolution, positioning Visakhapatnam as a new nerve center for AI innovation in Asia and reinforcing the country’s emergence as a global digital powerhouse.