Bharti Airtel advocates for sovereign cloud to support India’s AI growth

Bharti Airtel is advocating for a comprehensive sovereign cloud framework in India to support the country’s rapid artificial intelligence adoption. Speaking at the Global Fintech Fest 2026, Rahul Vatts, Group Chief Regulatory Officer and Director of Corporate Affairs, argued that true sovereignty must extend beyond simple data residency.

Vatts outlined four key principles for establishing a robust sovereign architecture. While data residency—ensuring data generated in India is stored and protected within the country—is a fundamental component, Airtel emphasizes that true sovereignty requires digital, operational, and jurisdictional control. This includes maintaining control over the end-to-end stack, including the infrastructure and the systems managing the data, to ensure security and compliance amidst geopolitical pressures.