Google Cloud unveils USD $15 billion AI hub plans for India
Google Cloud has announced a USD $15 billion commitment to establish its first Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub in India, to be located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
The investment, set to take place over a five-year period from 2026 to 2030, is aimed at supporting India's rapid digital transformation and aligns with the Government of India's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
Infrastructure details
The AI hub will feature a purpose-built data centre campus designed for gigawatt-scale compute capacity. According to Google Cloud, the facility will be constructed to the same standards as those supporting its core services worldwide, such as Search, YouTube, and Workspace.
Google Cloud stated, "At Google Cloud, we are deeply committed to being a foundational partner in this journey, working alongside the Indian government and industry leaders to realize the vision of a truly AI-first nation."
To address India's growing digital needs, the hub will integrate new large-scale energy sources and an expanded fibre-optic network. Partners AdaniConnex and Airtel will assist in delivering this infrastructure, which is also intended to provide access to high-performance, low-latency digital services for businesses, developers, and researchers across the country.
Commenting on the role of the infrastructure, Google Cloud highlighted, "It is critical that businesses, developers, and researchers have access to the highest-performance, lowest-latency services. Working with partners, AdaniConnex and Airtel, this hub will deliver the kind of reliable, advanced infrastructure necessary for large enterprises and innovative Indian startups alike to build and scale their own AI-powered solutions, and ultimately help India secure its place as a global leader in the AI-driven future."
International connectivity
Alongside the data centre campus, Google Cloud will invest in a major international subsea gateway for India. Multiple subsea cables will be landed in Visakhapatnam, creating a new connectivity hub on the eastern coast. This will complement existing international cable landings in Mumbai and Chennai, contributing to route diversity and improved digital resilience for India.
"Our commitment extends beyond the data center walls. This investment includes the construction of a major new international subsea gateway. By bringing multiple international subsea cables to land in Visakhapatnam, we are creating an essential connectivity hub on India's eastern coast. This new pathway will complement existing landings in Mumbai and Chennai, providing necessary route diversity and increasing the resilience of India's digital backbone. Subsea cable landings in Vizag will enhance connectivity and boost the resilience of India's digital backbone."
Google Cloud also emphasised, "This critical infrastructure will deliver faster experiences for our users and customers and will drive digital inclusivity and transformation, bringing the benefits of AI to more people and businesses nationwide."
Clean energy initiatives
With the expansion of data centre operations, Google Cloud has underlined the importance of responsible growth. The company stated that it would work with partners to deliver new transmission lines, clean energy generation, and energy storage systems in Andhra Pradesh. The project is expected to contribute to the state's electricity grid with a focus on energy efficiency and sustainability.
"We recognize that growth must be responsible. Google already operates some of the most energy-efficient data centers in the world. As we expand, we will be working with partners to deliver new transmission lines, clean energy generation, and energy storage systems in Andhra Pradesh, expanding the diverse portfolio of clean energy that contributes to India's electricity grid," the company said.
Job creation and bilateral cooperation
Google Cloud noted that the investment would lead to the creation of high-value jobs in India and stimulate economic activity in the United States through associated research and development.
"It's an investment that will create high-value jobs in India, while also stimulating economic activity back in the U.S. through related research and development. This is about pioneering a generational shift in AI capability that benefits both economies," the company commented.
AI and economic growth
The establishment of the AI hub in Visakhapatnam is seen as a step towards providing industry-wide AI infrastructure, supporting the digital ambitions of Indian businesses, startups, and the wider economy.
Google Cloud stated, "We believe that by delivering industry-leading AI infrastructure at this scale, we are creating meaningful opportunities for growth and helping to drive a transformative impact for society."
