Zscaler and Airtel launch AI cyber threat research centre in India

India’s digital growth story has added a new security layer. Zscaler and Bharti Airtel have announced the launch of the AI & Cyber Threat Research Centre – India, a joint initiative focused on strengthening national cyber resilience and accelerating trusted Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption.

Unveiled in New Delhi on January 20, 2026, the centre will act as a collaboration platform bringing together the private sector, government, academia, and other stakeholders. Its core objective is to protect critical infrastructure and digital users as India continues to build technology systems at a population scale across sectors such as telecommunications, banking, and energy.

Rising threats in a population-scale digital economy

India’s rapid digitisation has expanded access to services, but it has also widened the national attack surface. According to Zscaler’s research arm, ThreatLabz India, millions of infiltration attempts are observed every month. These include nation-state cyber espionage campaigns linked to regional geopolitical tensions targeting Indian organisations, as well as 1.2 million intrusion attempts from 20,000 different sources aimed at 58 Indian digital entities. Researchers have also reported a rise in zero-day exploit attempts affecting multiple industries.

Attackers are increasingly using AI to automate reconnaissance and exploit vulnerabilities within minutes. In this environment, traditional perimeter-based models such as legacy firewalls and virtual private networks are proving insufficient. The companies argue that a secure-by-design approach built on Zero Trust architecture is required to protect essential services and economic stability.

Four focus areas for coordinated action

The AI & Cyber Threat Research Centre – India will operate on four strategic pillars. First, it will provide real-time, actionable intelligence to strengthen national cyber resilience and support digital-first businesses. Second, it will work with government agencies to neutralise and prevent cyberattacks. Third, it will promote the adoption of modern security frameworks, particularly AI-driven defences and Zero Trust architecture. Finally, it will focus on building cybersecurity talent through specialised AI and Zero Trust certifications to address the country’s skills gap.

As founding members, Zscaler and Airtel plan to combine global threat intelligence with local operational reach. Zscaler will deploy a dedicated threat research team focused on India, drawing insights from its Zero Trust Exchange platform, which processes more than 500 billion daily transactions globally. Airtel will contribute visibility into mobile and Internet of Things traffic, helping detect suspicious activity faster and coordinate responses across networks. Additional public and private sector entities are expected to join the initiative over time.

National vision

Gopal Vittal, Executive Vice-Chairman of Bharti Airtel, said the partnership extends the company’s commitment to safeguarding customers and the nation’s digital fabric. He noted that combining AI capabilities with cybersecurity research at scale will help address market-specific challenges and support safer digital engagement.

Jay Chaudhry, CEO, Chairman, and Founder of Zscaler, said India’s digital ambitions cannot be secured with legacy tools. He emphasised the need for a modern Zero Trust architecture that is secure by design, adding that the new centre will combine intelligence from over 500 billion daily transactions with local expertise to help India’s public and private sectors stay ahead of adversaries.

Positioned as an “In India, For India” initiative, the research centre aligns with the country’s long-term vision of Viksit Bharat and a digitally self-reliant future. As digital infrastructure becomes as critical as physical infrastructure, the launch signals a deeper push for coordinated, AI-driven cyber defence at the national scale.