Visakhapatnam is set to become India’s next major digital powerhouse, with Google announcing a $15 billion (₹10,000 crore) investment to build the country’s first gigawatt-scale hyperscale data centre and AI hub. The landmark project will serve as the foundation for AI-first infrastructure, clean energy development, and high-value job creation aligned with the Government of India’s Viksit Bharat Vision.
Announced during the Bharat AI Shakti event in New Delhi, the initiative represents Google’s largest-ever investment in India and will generate between 5,000–6,000 direct jobs and up to 30,000 indirect opportunities over the next five years (2026–2030).
Union Minister of Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw called the Google AI Hub a “transformative step for India’s digital economy”, noting its potential to position the nation as a global leader in AI infrastructure. “This infrastructure breaks new ground in AI-first data center architecture, anchored by clean energy and subsea cable connectivity. It will fuel AI-driven services and create high-value employment across the country,” he said.
Union MoS Dr. Pemmasani Chandrasekhar echoed that sentiment, describing the project as a defining milestone in “Swarandhra Pradesh’s journey of self-reliance and digital progress.”
Building India’s AI and Connectivity Backbone
The AI hub will feature a purpose-built data centre campus in Visakhapatnam, developed with partners including AdaniConnex and Airtel, and backed by Google Cloud’s full AI stack. It will host high-performance, low-latency compute systems for AI workloads, empowering both enterprises and startups to build scalable, AI-powered solutions.
A key component of the initiative is a new international subsea gateway, which will make Visakhapatnam a major landing point for global cables linking India to Southeast Asia, Australia, and beyond. This will enhance the country’s digital backbone and provide faster, more resilient data access.
To further strengthen connectivity, Minister Vaishnaw proposed a Vizag–Sittwe digital corridor via Myanmar, and highlighted the potential of transforming the Andaman Islands into a global data transfer hub.
Clean Energy and Skill Development Focus
In keeping with Google’s sustainability goals, the data centre will run on clean energy, with new transmission lines, energy storage, and renewable capacity being developed in partnership with local utilities.
The initiative also supports India’s AI reskilling and upskilling efforts, helping IT professionals and young engineers prepare for AI-driven job opportunities. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu called the investment “a new chapter in India’s digital transformation story,” reaffirming Andhra Pradesh’s role as a technology-forward state.
Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian said the hub will “deliver industry-leading AI infrastructure at scale, enabling faster innovation and inclusive growth while advancing India’s leadership in responsible AI.”
