In a transformative moment for the country’s digital infrastructure, Google on Tuesday announced a $15-billion investment to set up its largest artificial intelligence (AI) hub outside the US in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
The multi-faceted project will include the country’s biggest data centre, developed in partnership with Adani Group and Bharti Airtel, to drive the next generation of AI innovation and digital growth. The partnership brings together three of the most powerful forces in technology, infrastructure, and connectivity.
Adani Enterprises, through its joint venture AdaniConneX, will build and operate the gigawatt-scale AI data centre campus, while Airtel will provide the crucial fibre backbone and subsea landing infrastructure to power Google’s AI ambitions in the country.
The announcement was made during Bharat AI Shakti, a Google-hosted event in the national capital attended by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
“This is the largest AI hub that we are going to be investing in anywhere in the world outside of the US,” Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, said. “Working with Adani and Airtel, we will deliver next-generation AI services and create the essential digital backbone required to power inclusive growth across India,” he added.
The hub, to be developed over five years from 2026 to 2030, will include a 1-gigawatt data centre campus supported by a new international subsea gateway and large-scale clean energy generation in Andhra Pradesh. The AI hub will also host advanced compute infrastructure, new transmission lines, and innovative energy storage systems, making it one of the most sustainable digital projects of its kind globally.
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani described the project as a defining moment in India’s digital evolution. “The Adani Group is proud to partner with Google on this historic project that will define the future of India’s digital landscape,” he said.
The collaboration with Airtel will bring world-class connectivity to the AI hub. Airtel and Google will jointly establish a purpose-built data centre in Visakhapatnam and a state-of-the-art Cable Landing Station (CLS) that will anchor Google’s new international subsea cables. Airtel will also deploy a robust intra-city and inter-city fibre network as part of the project.
“This partnership with Google is a defining moment in India’s digital future,” Gopal Vittal, vice chairman and managing director of Bharti Airtel, said.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the new hub will be central to India’s AI mission and will enable the country to accelerate innovation across industries. “Great to speak with India PM @narendramodi to share our plans for the first-ever Google AI hub in Visakhapatnam,” Pichai posted on X.
“This hub combines gigawatt-scale compute capacity, a new international subsea gateway, and large-scale energy infrastructure. Through it, we will bring our industry-leading technology to enterprises and users in India, accelerating AI innovation and driving growth across the country.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, responding to Pichai’s post, said the launch of the Google AI Hub in Visakhapatnam would be “a powerful force in democratising technology. It will also ensure AI for All, delivering cutting-edge tools to our citizens, boosting our digital economy, and securing India’s place as a global technology leader”.
Adani ConneX and Google’s partnership will also see co-investment in clean energy projects to power the AI campus. This aligns with both companies’ sustainability commitments and India’s renewable energy ambitions. The project is expected to generate tens of thousands of jobs across construction, energy, and digital sectors, while driving economic growth in Andhra Pradesh and beyond.