Google is going to build Asia’s largest data center in India.
Google is going to play a big bet in India. The company will invest $ 10 billion (Rs 88,730 crore as per current currency) to set up a data center cluster of 1 gigawatt capacity in Visakhapatnam. This data center will be Asia’s largest data center hub. This will be Google’s first such investment in India. This facility will include three data center campuses near Visakhapatnam i.e. at Adavivaram village and Tarluvada village in Visakhapatnam district, and Rambilli village in Anakapalle district. They are expected to be operational by July 2028. According to the ET report, the construction of the data center cluster will include three high capacity submarine cables, dedicated cable landing stations, high capacity metro fiber lines and telecom infrastructure and landing.
Asia’s largest data center hub
The outline of the agreement is likely to be formalized between Google officials and Andhra Pradesh IT and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh in New Delhi on October 14, the ET report quoted sources as saying. The Andhra Pradesh State Investment Promotion Board headed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is likely to approve the investment proposal on Wednesday. The project is expected to be the largest direct investment ever by Google and its subsidiaries in India’s digital economy. Google and its subsidiaries currently operate data centers in 29 locations in 11 countries – the United States, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Belgium and Chile. The data center cluster in Visakhapatnam is expected to be Asia’s largest to date.
MoU was signed in 2024
Naidu had signed an MoU with Google in December 2024, within six months of assuming power. Sources said that Google had set some conditions for the development of data infrastructure. Earlier on May 26, it was reported in the media that Naidu had proposed amendments in the IT Act and Copyright Act to promote data cities. Subsequently, the Government of India issued a draft policy providing a comprehensive framework for data centres.
Digital economy will get speed
Google’s Asia-Pacific team had visited Visakhapatnam in May this year and Lokesh had personally taken them to inspect various proposed sites in the state. This data center cluster will form part of India’s first International AI Infrastructure Hub, a massive digital infrastructure region developed in a concentrated geographical zone. This hub will be able to provide leading digital capabilities to accelerate the economy and advance resources and development of Andhra Pradesh and India.