‘Cloud Is No Longer Just An It Enabler; It’s A Critical National Infrastructure’: Kamleshwar Bhatt, CEO, i2k2 Networks

i2k2 Networks, a Noida-based data center and managed cloud services provider with a global footprint, serves over 4,000 customers across the public and private sector. From enabling real-time disaster recovery for an Uttar Pradesh helpline service to deploying analytics for Goa’s tourism department, i2k2 has a wide range of experience in digital governance. The company also owns data centers across India and Canada, and was recently invited by the Ministry of Electronics and IT to contribute to policy discussions around cloud computing and AI infrastructure for the IndiaAI Mission. In this interview, CEO Kamleshwar Bhatt discusses the sustainability challenges of cloud infrastructure and data centers.   

Multiple studies project massive growth for the cloud computing market. How does this growth align with India’s net zero goals, given the huge carbon footprint of data centres?  

The global cloud market is set to double in the next decade, and India will be a key driver. But this growth must go hand-in-hand with sustainability. At i2k2 Networks, we’ve embedded efficiency into every layer, leveraging virtualisation, AI-led workload distribution, and high-efficiency servers. We’re also investing in modern cooling solutions, airflow optimisation, and energy monitoring systems. Our long-term roadmap includes integrating renewable energy to ensure that our expansion supports India’s net-zero goals without compromise.

What is your view on regulations around energy use and emissions for the cloud/data center industry? Is this helpful or hindering innovations? 

Regulations around emissions and energy use are not just welcome, they’re necessary. They encourage the industry to move faster toward energy accountability, transparency, and innovation. However, a balance must be maintained. Policymaking should support operational flexibility and create pathways for easier access to renewable energy especially for independent players building local cloud infrastructure. 

Does the industry report on average energy utilisation and demand of servers and storage equipment? Are carbon-reduction plans mandated for every company? 

While India doesn’t yet mandate uniform reporting, responsible players like i2k2 adopt global benchmarks such as PUE to measure and optimise performance. We regularly audit our infrastructure to prevent overprovisioning and improve compute-to-energy ratios. We believe carbon-reduction plans should become a norm, not an exception. We’re already aligning with ESG frameworks and exploring carbon offset strategies to future-proof our operations.

Are there new technologies that i2k2 or other data centres in India are using to manage the cooling needs of high-performance computing systems?  

Cooling accounts for nearly 40% of data center energy usage. Traditional air cooling isn’t viable at scale, especially for high-performance workloads. At i2k2, we’re exploring direct-to-chip liquid cooling and rear-door heat exchangers. Direct-to-chip cooling delivers coolant directly to processors, extracting heat more efficiently while dramatically cutting power consumption. These solutions are key to building the next generation of high-density, sustainable data centers. 

Post-pandemic, there is growing interest in understanding how cloud computing and data repositories are a critical infrastructure for various kinds of large disaster preparedness programmes, public health research programmes and more. In this context, tell us about i2k2’s services. 

The pandemic showed us that cloud is no longer just an IT enabler; it’s a critical national infrastructure. i2k2 is proud to support UP Dial 112, India’s largest emergency response system, with highly available, secure hosting that enables real-time public safety operations.
We also powered the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) with scalable cloud and DR infrastructure during COVID, enabling rapid research, data collection, and health response.
These projects show how cloud’s role is vital in disaster preparedness, e-governance, and national service delivery. We’re committed to strengthening India’s digital backbone, especially for mission-critical public sector initiatives.

Published on: Monday, August 04, 2025, 01:08 PM IST