Airtel and Google Join Forces to Build India's First AI Hub in Visakhapatnam

Airtel, Google to build AI hub in Visakhapatnam - The Economic Times

Bharti Airtel and Google has entered into a partnership to set up an AI hub in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam, with support from AdaniConneX. The $15 billion project, spread over five years, includes a dedicated data centre and a cable landing station to host Google's new subsea cables and boost global digital infrastructure.Bharti Airtel has partnered with Google to build an artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, the company announced in a press release on Tuesday. The AI hub will be developed in collaboration with AdaniConneX, a joint venture by Adani Enterprises for data centres. The project involves a total investment of around $15 billion over five years, that is, 2026 to 2030. As part of the plan, Airtel and Google will set up a dedicated data centre in Visakhapatnam along with a state-of-the-art Cable Landing Station (CLS). This CLS will host Google's new international subsea cables, expanding its global digital infrastructure. Airtel also plans to build a strong fibre network both within the city and across other Indian cities to support this initiative. According to the company, "This high-capacity, low-latency network will deliver faster experiences to Google users and customers; increase the resilience and capacity of India's digital backbone; as well as drive digital inclusivity and transformation across India, bringing the benefits of AI to more people and businesses nationwide." Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, said, "Meeting the demands of India's AI Mission requires cutting-edge infrastructure, computational power and ubiquitous connectivity. Working with Airtel, we will deliver next-generation AI services and create the essential digital backbone required to power inclusive growth across India."

Bharti Airtel and Google to Make this Big Move in Visakhapatnam

Airtel has millions of customers under its portfolio, and several thousand enterprise users. Bharti Airtel and Google have just announced a landmark deal for the Indian market. The companies are gearing to fuel the AI (artificial intelligence) infrastructure in India. Airtel has millions of customers under its portfolio, and several thousand enterprise users. Google, a US tech major, holds plenty of expertise in building digital infrastructure and also has a wide reach throughout India and globally. Google and Airtel have now announced that they will set up India's first AI Hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. This is a major move from the companies, and it will proliferate the use of AI in the country. Read More - BSNL Validity Plan that Offers 50GB of Data to Users Google will be able to offer its full-stack AI services more conveniently following this deal. Further, businesses in the country would be able to adopt AI faster due to this landmark deal. This is not a small project, naturally. This AI Hub from Google and Airtel will be set up at an approximate cost of $15 billion (USD) over five years (2026-2030). This will also comprise of gigawatt-scale data center operations. The data center will be supported by a robust subsea network and clean energy. The AI Hub will majorly be owned by Google, but will be brought to life by working closely with Airtel and AdaniConneX. Airtel and Google will jointly work to establish the new data center in Visakhapatnam along with a state-of-the-art Cable Landing Station (CLS) to host Google's new international subsea cables that will join the extensive global terrestrial and subsea infrastructure. Airtel will also work to create a robust intra-city as well as inter-city fibre network as a part of this project. Read More - Samsung Galaxy M17 5G Launched in India: Price and Specs Gopal Vittal, Chairman and Managing Director, Bharti Airtel Limited, said, "This partnership with Google is a defining moment in India's digital future. By combining world-class AI infrastructure with our nation's extraordinary talent and also expanding global connectivity, we are laying the foundation for India to become a leader in the AI-driven era. 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." "Meeting the demands of India's AI Mission requires cutting-edge infrastructure, computational power and ubiquitous connectivity. Working with Airtel, we will deliver next-generation AI services and create the essential digital backbone required to power inclusive growth across India," said Thomas Kurian, CEO, Google Cloud.

Airtel parters with Google for $15 billion AI data centre in Visakhapatnam

Bharti Airtel and Google have announced a strategic partnership to develop India's first Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The collaboration aims to accelerate AI adoption and enhance the country's digital infrastructure. The project involves a multi-faceted investment from Google, estimated at approximately $15 billion over a five-year period from 2026 to 2030. This investment will fund the development of gigawatt-scale data center operations designed to handle demanding AI workloads. The infrastructure will be supported by a new subsea cable network and will utilize clean energy sources. The initiative will be executed in collaboration with ecosystem partners, including Airtel and AdaniConneX. Under the agreement, Airtel and Google will jointly establish a purpose-built data center in Visakhapatnam. They will also build a new Cable Landing Station (CLS) to accommodate Google's upcoming international subsea cables, connecting them to its global network. Airtel's role will also include the creation of a high-capacity, low-latency fiber network, both within Visakhapatnam (intra-city) and connecting to other cities (inter-city). The stated objectives of this initiative are to provide faster and more reliable services to Google's users and customers in India. The project is expected to increase the capacity and resilience of India's digital backbone. Furthermore, the partnership aims to promote digital inclusivity and transformation across the nation, making the benefits of AI more accessible to a wider range of people and businesses. Commenting on this, Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Bharti Airtel Limited, said: This partnership with Google is a defining moment in India's digital future. By combining world-class AI infrastructure with our nation's extraordinary talent and also expanding global connectivity, we are laying the foundation for India to become a leader in the AI-driven era. 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, Google Cloud, said: