Nxtra by Airtel Reports 17% Revenue Growth in FY26, Unveils 1GW Data Center Expansion Plan

Nxtra by Airtel, the data center arm of Indian telecom giant Bharti Airtel, has reported a 17% year-on-year increase in revenue for fiscal year 2026, driven by surging demand for cloud and digital services across India. The company also announced ambitious plans to scale its total data center capacity to 1 gigawatt (GW) in the coming years, positioning itself as a key player in the country’s rapidly expanding digital infrastructure landscape.

The revenue growth underscores the accelerating adoption of data-intensive technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and streaming services, which are fueling demand for reliable and scalable colocation facilities. Nxtra’s performance reflects the broader momentum in India’s data center market, which is projected to become one of the fastest-growing globally over the next decade.

As part of its expansion strategy, Nxtra intends to invest heavily in new hyperscale facilities across multiple Indian cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru. The 1GW target represents a significant leap from its current operational capacity, which stands at approximately 150MW. The company has already secured land and power allocations for several new projects, with construction expected to begin in the next fiscal quarter. This expansion aligns with the Indian government’s push to boost domestic data localization and support the country’s burgeoning digital economy.

Industry analysts note that Nxtra’s aggressive build-out comes at a time when global tech giants and domestic enterprises alike are racing to secure capacity in India. The move is expected to intensify competition with established players such as STT GDC India, CtrlS, and Yotta Infrastructure. By scaling to 1GW, Nxtra aims to capture a larger share of the hyperscale cloud market, particularly from multinational clients seeking to expand their footprint in South Asia.

The implications for the energy sector are also significant, as data centers of this scale require substantial and reliable power supply. Nxtra has indicated it will prioritize renewable energy sources for its new facilities, aiming to maintain its commitment to sustainability while meeting the growing power demands of AI and high-performance computing workloads.