Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom operator, said on Monday that it has entered into a long-term partnership with Google Cloud to develop and deliver cloud and generative AI products to Indian businesses.
The partnership aims to tap Airtel’s extensive customer base, which, according to the company, includes 2,000 large enterprises and a million emerging businesses. The companies plan to offer AI solutions, including generative AI, which Airtel will train using its vast datasets.
As part of the collaboration, Airtel and Google Cloud will provide businesses with products like geospatial analytics, location intelligence for spotting trends, predictive capabilities, market assessment, site selection, risk management, and asset tracking.
Also in the offing are voice analytics for conversational applications trained across languages, and marketing technology to forecast consumer behavior, perform audience segmentations, and streamline content creation with contextual ads. Airtel said it has set up a managed service center in Pune crewed by more than 300 “experts” to provide support.
Tech behemoths Google, Microsoft and Amazon are increasingly setting their sights on the telecommunications industry, seeking to capitalize on the vast troves of data generated by the sector’s billions of customers worldwide. The three firms have signed deals with telecom operators globally, including in the U.S. and U.K. The companies are also aggressively looking to sell their generative AI offerings to businesses across the world.
Google is already an investor in Airtel — it committed to investing up to $1 billion in the Indian carrier in 2022. The search giant has also backed Jio Platforms, which operates India’s largest carrier. Jio maintains a similar long-term partnership with Microsoft, too, as the Indian carrier cross-sells Office 365 and Azure to local businesses.
Google and Airtel did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.
Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room
Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $400.
Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit
1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediately
Offer ends March 13.
Google Cloud CEO, Thomas Kurian, described the partnership as “a significant milestone” toward the Android maker’s commitment to accelerate cloud and AI adoption in India.
