Microsoft brings AI-ready capabilities across its India cloud infrastructure

Speaking at the event, Shri Jitin Prasada, Hon'ble Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, and Electronics & Information Technology, said, "India's ambition is to be an AI-first nation. The launch of Microsoft's India South Central datacenter region strengthens the digital infrastructure needed to support that ambition. As we advance the IndiaAI Mission, investments such as these expand national AI capability, accelerate innovation, and enable developers, enterprises, and public institutions to build and deploy AI with confidence. With its talent, entrepreneurial energy, and digital public infrastructure, India is well-positioned to lead AI adoption at scale and contribute innovations that benefit people in India and around the world."

Puneet Chandok, President, Microsoft India and South Asia, said, "India heard our commitment. Today, India can see it - built, live and running. India South Central is our fourth cloud region in the country, built for advanced AI workloads and a strategic hub for Asia and the Global South. It is where our $20.5 billion investment becomes operational infrastructure, with leading Indian enterprises already running on it. But compute alone does not make a nation AI-ready. Capability does - the ability to take AI from pilot to production on platforms that are sovereign-ready, secure and sustainable, in a region cooled with effectively zero water. That is why we have already equipped more than 10 million Indians with AI skills, on the way to 20 million by 2030. India has the talent and the ambition. Now it has the infrastructure to build the next generation of Frontier Firms - and we are building alongside it."

Message from Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President, Microsoft

FROM LIVE INFRASTRUCTURE TO REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY

India South Central region launches with a broad portfolio of Azure services and is designed to support the full portfolio of Azure and AI services, including Microsoft Foundry, as additional capabilities roll out in the coming months. The 'strategic hub' ambition extends beyond serving domestic demand. India brings together hyperscale infrastructure, engineering talent, a fast-growing digital economy and experience building technology for complex, diverse markets. This combination can support customers across South Asia, accelerate innovation for Asia and create solutions relevant to the Global South.

Beyond AI-ready datacenters, Microsoft is also investing in the critical digital infrastructure that enables AI at scale. As a consortium partner in the planned India-Southeast Asia (I-2SEA) submarine cable system, Microsoft is supporting the development of a 3,600-kilometre subsea corridor linking India, Malaysia and Singapore. With dual landings in India, at Machilipatnam and South Chennai, the system will strengthen regional connectivity, improve network resilience, and provide the high-capacity foundation needed to support growing AI, cloud and hyperscale demand across India and the region. The cable system is targeted to be ready for service in 2029.

BUILDING THE FRONTIER WORKFORCE: MORE THAN 10 MILLION INDIANS EQUIPPED WITH AI SKILLS