Google, Adani to Build $15B Clean Energy-Powered AI Hub in Visakhapatnam

Bharti Airtel (Airtel) is partnering with Google to develop one of India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) hubs in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. In a press release, Airtel announced that the project represents a multi-faceted investment of approximately $15 billion (USD) over five years (2026-2030) at Google’s AI hub in the city.

The project will feature a gigawatt-scale data center operation, supported by a subsea network and clean energy, designed to handle India’s most demanding AI workloads. It will be implemented in close collaboration with ecosystem partners, including Airtel and AdaniConneX. Airtel added that the initiative aims to accelerate AI adoption across India, strengthen the nation’s digital backbone, and bring Google’s full AI stack and consumer services closer to Indian businesses.

Airtel has previously collaborated with companies to source renewable energy from wind, solar, and hybrid projects. For instance, earlier this year, Nxtra by Airtel signed an agreement with AMPIN Energy Transition to seek 205,167 MWh of green energy annually from solar-wind hybrid projects via the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) network. 

Additionally, the company has reported a significant increase in renewable energy sourcing over the last quarter. Bharti Airtel subsidiary Nxtra Data contracted 482,800 MWh of green power in FY25, marking a 14.5% rise in renewable energy usage compared with the previous fiscal year. During FY25, nearly 49% of electricity consumed across its core data centers came from renewable sources.

Airtel & Google Data Center in Visakhapatnam

Through this collaboration, Airtel and Google will jointly establish a purpose-built data center in Visakhapatnam, along with a Cable Landing Station (CLS) to host Google’s new international subsea cables, connecting it to Google’s extensive global terrestrial and subsea infrastructure.

Airtel will also create a robust intra-city and inter-city fibre network as part of the project. This high-capacity, low-latency network is expected to deliver faster experiences to Google users and customers, enhance the resilience and capacity of India’s digital backbone, and drive digital inclusivity and transformation, extending the benefits of AI to more people and businesses nationwide.

About The Collaboration

Shedding light on the latest deal, the top management at the comppany said: 

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, “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.”