Bharti Airtel and Google have announced a strategic partnership to develop India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub in Visakhapatnam. The collaboration is set to boost AI adoption and strengthen India’s digital infrastructure.
The project will see Google investing around $15 billion over five years, from 2026 to 2030. The investment will focus on building gigawatt-scale data centers capable of handling heavy AI workloads. These centers will be supported by clean energy sources and a new subsea cable network to ensure fast and reliable connections to Google’s global network.
As part of the partnership, Airtel and Google will build a purpose-built data center in Visakhapatnam. Airtel will create a high-capacity, low-latency fiber network that connects Visakhapatnam internally and links it to other major cities. A new Cable Landing Station (CLS) will also be established to host Google’s international subsea cables. The project will be executed in collaboration with ecosystem partners, including Airtel and AdaniConneX, to ensure seamless operations and efficient connectivity.
The main goals of this initiative are:
- To provide faster and more reliable services to Google users and customers in India.
- To enhance the capacity and resilience of India’s digital backbone.
- To promote digital inclusivity, making AI technologies more accessible to businesses, startups, and individuals across the country.
Experts say this partnership could reshape India’s AI ecosystem. By combining Google’s technological expertise with Airtel’s network reach, the project may accelerate AI adoption, create jobs, and attract further global investment in India’s technology sector.
India is rapidly growing as a hub for technology and AI. This collaboration positions Visakhapatnam as a key center for AI research, development, and deployment. The new infrastructure will support both domestic innovation and global AI workloads.
