Google and Bharti Airtel have announced today the partnership to establish India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The hub is expected to see an investment of over $15 billion over next five years between 2026 and 2030.

"It is because of PM's vision that all large companies are coming to India. Because of Andhra Pradesh's fast-paced approvals, Google has announced plans to set up its presence in the state. This data centre will be part of the country's IndiaAI mission. We will ensure startups get access to these facilities," said Union electronics and IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The initiative aims to accelerate AI adoption across India and strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure.

“This partnership with Google is a defining moment in India’s digital future. 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,” said Gopal Vittal, vice chairman and MD, Bharti Airtel Ltd, in a statement.

The hub will include gigawatt-scale data centre operations supported by a high-capacity subsea cable network and clean energy sources, designed to handle advanced AI workloads.

The data centre will be jointly established by the two giants, and a state-of-the-art Cable Landing Station (CLS) will host new international subsea cables, expanding Google’s global connectivity.

“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, in a statement.

As part of the project, Airtel will develop both intra-city and inter-city fibre networks. This low-latency, high-speed network will improve access to Google services, enhance India’s digital backbone, and support the adoption of AI across businesses and communities nationwide. Customers will benefit from faster digital experiences and improved network resilience.

The partnership leverages existing ecosystem players, including AdaniConneX, to implement the infrastructure efficiently. The AI hub will support Google’s full AI stack and consumer services while providing enterprise-grade connectivity solutions.

For Airtel, this project expands its portfolio of digital and communications services, which include mobile 4G/5G, high-speed broadband, cloud and data centre solutions, cybersecurity, IoT, and digital payments. Airtel’s cloud services, delivered through its Xtelify arm, provide a telco-grade, sovereign cloud platform for enterprise customers.