India, March 31 -- With a new investment of USD 1 billion in its subsidiary Nxtra, Bharti Airtel is expanding its presence in India's rapidly growing data centre market. The move reflects rising demand for AI-ready infrastructure from enterprises, cloud providers and government-led digital initiatives.

The funding round values Nxtra at approximately USD 3.1 billion and is backed by global investors including Carlyle, Anchorage Capital and Alpha Wave Global. Airtel will also participate in the round, subject to regulatory approvals, and will retain a controlling stake in the business.

The investment highlights a broader shift among telecom operators, who are increasingly moving beyond traditional connectivity to focus on digital infrastr...