BharathCloud has appointed JLL as its exclusive advisory partner to support the development of AI-ready sovereign cloud infrastructure across India and selected international markets. The partnership underpins BharathCloud’s plan to invest up to USD 100 million over the next five years in building a distributed cloud and data center footprint designed to meet growing demand for secure, compliant, and high-performance digital infrastructure.
The proposed investment, which remains subject to board approvals, financing arrangements, regulatory clearances, and market conditions, is aimed at delivering edge and metro cloud facilities across major Indian cities including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi NCR, Kolkata, and Pune. The rollout also targets Tier-II and Tier-III locations, reflecting a broader push to decentralize digital infrastructure and bring cloud and AI capabilities closer to emerging enterprise and public-sector demand centers.
Under the agreement, JLL will provide end-to-end advisory services covering colocation site identification, design consultancy, and portfolio optimization. For BharathCloud, the partnership is intended to accelerate execution while ensuring facilities are designed to international standards for scalability, resilience, and energy efficiency. The focus on AI-ready infrastructure reflects the increasing power density and cooling requirements associated with modern AI workloads, as well as the need for sovereign cloud platforms aligned with national data governance frameworks.
The collaboration builds on BharathCloud’s existing relationship with DE-CIX India, part of the global DE-CIX interconnection ecosystem. By combining carrier-neutral interconnection with sovereign cloud infrastructure, BharathCloud positions itself to create what it describes as a “Digital Triangle” in India, linking cloud services, interconnection, and enterprise access. The model is designed to enable businesses to scale workloads efficiently while maintaining control over data residency and compliance.
Sovereign Cloud Centers
Padma Reddy Sama, co-founder of BharathCloud, said the appointment of JLL marks a milestone in advancing enterprise-grade, India-first AI cloud infrastructure. He highlighted plans to launch at least two sovereign cloud centers in every metro area before expanding into smaller cities, with an emphasis on security, operational efficiency, and adherence to India’s data sovereignty requirements.
From JLL’s perspective, the partnership aligns with rapid expansion in India’s data center market. Rachit Mohan, APAC lead for data center colocation leasing at JLL, pointed to forecasts indicating that India’s data center capacity could grow from around 1.25 gigawatts in 2025 to more than 10.5 gigawatts by 2035. He cited the convergence of AI infrastructure buildouts, cloud adoption, 5G deployment, and government-led digital initiatives as key drivers positioning India as a significant node in the global cloud ecosystem.
For B2B customers, the initiative highlights a broader shift toward sovereign and edge cloud strategies, as enterprises and governments seek localized infrastructure capable of supporting AI, latency-sensitive applications, and regulatory compliance at scale.
Executive Insights FAQ
What is the scope of BharathCloud’s planned investment?
Up to USD 100 million over five years, subject to approvals and market conditions.
What role will JLL play in the partnership?
JLL will act as exclusive advisory partner for site selection, design consultancy, and portfolio optimization.
Which locations are targeted for the cloud rollout?
Major metros across India, along with Tier-II and Tier-III cities, plus select international locations.
Why is AI readiness central to the project?
AI workloads require higher power density, advanced cooling, and scalable infrastructure close to users.
How does DE-CIX India fit into the strategy?
Its interconnection ecosystem complements BharathCloud’s sovereign cloud to enable scalable, low-latency connectivity.
