Bharti Airtel Launches Sovereign Cloud Platform for Indian and Global Telcos

India’s second-largest telecom company, Bharti Airtel, has introduced a new telecom-grade, sovereign Cloud platform named “Airtel Cloud”. The initiative aims to help Indian enterprises and telecom providers reduce their cloud expenditure while ensuring that all data remains securely hosted within India, complying with stringent data sovereignty requirements.

The platform was launched under Airtel’s fully owned subsidiary, Xtelify, which will operate on a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) model and offer these Cloud capabilities to other telecom companies—both in India and globally.

Airtel Cloud: India’s Sovereign Alternative to Global Cloud Giants

By entering the Cloud services segment, Airtel is positioning itself as a direct competitor to global leaders such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. However, Airtel is differentiating itself with a sovereign-first approach designed to support data residency, lower latency, and AI integration.

"Within Airtel, we have been actively harnessing digital innovations at unmatched scale..."

Gopal Vittal, Vice-Chairman and MD of Bharti Airtel, highlighted the importance of Airtel Cloud in transforming customer experience. “This has involved powering over 590 million customer touchpoints and solving some of the most complex telecom challenges in the world... at a very compelling cost,” he said.

He added that Xtelify’s bundled network and Cloud services can reduce infrastructure costs by up to 40%, providing telcos with a significant cost advantage.

Xtelify’s AI-Powered Software Suite to Boost Telecom Efficiency

Key Products of Airtel Cloud via Xtelify:

1. Xtelify Data Engine – AI-powered data analysis

2. Xtelify Work – Workflow and telecom journey automation

3. Xtelify IQ – Advanced telecom intelligence

4. Xtelify Serve – Task management and governance

These tools enable:

• Real-time tracking and monitoring

• Spam and fraud protection

• Fleet and dispatch optimization

• Telecom workflow management

This integrated suite is designed to reduce churn, enhance customer experience, and increase Average Revenue Per User (Arpu) — a critical profitability metric in the telecom sector.

Global Rollout: Airtel Signs Singtel, Airtel Africa, and Globe Telecom

Among its initial contract wins, Xtelify has partnered with:

• Singtel (Singapore) – also an Airtel shareholder

• Airtel Africa – active in 14 African nations

• Globe Telecom – leading operator in the Philippines

"The solution is expected to streamline workflows..."

According to Ng Tian Chong, CEO of Singtel Singapore, the AI-powered Xtelify suite will help improve resource governance, streamline telecom workflows, and reduce carbon footprint by optimizing dispatch and operations.

Sovereign Data Control: Airtel Cloud Hosted Entirely Within India

Airtel has ensured that the control of Airtel Cloud will remain within Indian territory. The data will be processed in next-generation domestic data centers, with no foreign access allowed.

This aligns with India’s evolving data localisation norms and reflects growing concerns around data privacy and national digital sovereignty.

₹6,000 Crore Investment in Data Centers to Power Airtel Cloud

Bharti Airtel’s data center arm Nxtra is at the core of this initiative. According to a recent report, the company has committed nearly ₹6,000 crore in capital expenditure over the next 3–4 years to expand its data center capacity.

The infrastructure will be capable of handling up to 1.4 billion transactions per minute, making it suitable for supporting large-scale telecom applications and customer touchpoints.

Telecom Profitability Challenges and Airtel’s Strategic Pivot

While Airtel continues to lead innovation, India’s Average Revenue Per User (Arpu) remains relatively stagnant despite three rounds of tariff hikes over the past three years.

As of the March 2025 quarter, Airtel’s enterprise business accounts for 11% of overall revenue, with the Airtel Business segment recording a slight dip to ₹5,315 crore. The company is expected to announce its June quarter results on Tuesday.

By expanding into Cloud services and AI tools for telcos, Airtel aims to diversify revenue streams and mitigate domestic ARPU pressures.

Reliance Jio Also Building AI Cloud Services

Bharti Airtel is not alone in the telecom AI and Cloud race. Reliance Jio, Airtel’s key competitor, is reportedly building its own AI-based infrastructure under the ‘Jio Brain’ initiative.

Sources suggest that Jio Brain will enable machine learning model training at the network edge and within cloud environments. As use cases evolve, Jio is also likely to offer its services to external enterprises, potentially intensifying competition in the telecom AI landscape.

Conclusion: Airtel Cloud Marks India’s Bold Entry into Global Cloud Arena

Bharti Airtel’s launch of a sovereign, telecom-grade Cloud platform signals a transformative shift in India’s digital infrastructure landscape. With a focus on cost-efficiency, data sovereignty, and AI integration, Airtel Cloud via Xtelify could emerge as a strong homegrown alternative to foreign tech giants.

As global telecom operators increasingly seek secure, localised, and intelligent solutions, Airtel is poised to become a critical digital enabler — not just in India, but across Asia and Africa. With strategic partnerships, ₹6,000 crore in infrastructure investment, and AI-driven product offerings, Airtel’s cloud ambitions could be a game changer for the telecom ecosystem.