Google's parent company, Alphabet, will invest $15 billion (£11.29 billion) to build an AI data hub in southern India's Andhra Pradesh state. The facility, which is to be set up in the port city of Visakhapatnam, is expected to be a significant addition to Google's global network of AI centres, which spans 12 countries. It's the largest AI hub that we are going to be investing in anywhere in the world, outside of the United States, said Thomas Kurien, CEO of Google Cloud, during a recent event in Delhi. The investment will be phased over five years.
The announcement aligns with India’s position as an attractive destination for data centres, owing to its low data costs and a rapidly growing internet user base. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted that this new hub would enhance technology access for businesses and consumers in India, spurring rapid growth and innovation in artificial intelligence.
A formal agreement for the project will be finalized soon, according to the Andhra Pradesh government, which anticipates a substantial boost to the state's digital future and global standing. The initiative also encompasses the integration of AI infrastructure with renewable energy systems and an expanded fibre-optic network.
As part of a broader strategy, the Andhra Pradesh government aims to develop 6GW of data centre capacity by 2029 to further attract global investment. With the data centre industry in India expanding quickly—recent reports indicate it nearly tripled its capacity since 2019—the Google investment signals confidence in India's digital economy and its potential for future growth.
The announcement aligns with India’s position as an attractive destination for data centres, owing to its low data costs and a rapidly growing internet user base. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted that this new hub would enhance technology access for businesses and consumers in India, spurring rapid growth and innovation in artificial intelligence.
A formal agreement for the project will be finalized soon, according to the Andhra Pradesh government, which anticipates a substantial boost to the state's digital future and global standing. The initiative also encompasses the integration of AI infrastructure with renewable energy systems and an expanded fibre-optic network.
As part of a broader strategy, the Andhra Pradesh government aims to develop 6GW of data centre capacity by 2029 to further attract global investment. With the data centre industry in India expanding quickly—recent reports indicate it nearly tripled its capacity since 2019—the Google investment signals confidence in India's digital economy and its potential for future growth.
