Google Announces Major Infrastructure Push in India with New Fiber-Optic Routes
Alphabet's Google has unveiled a significant new infrastructure initiative in India, featuring fresh fiber-optic routes that will enhance connectivity between the country, the United States, and multiple locations across the Southern Hemisphere. This strategic move was announced by CEO Sundar Pichai during an AI summit held in New Delhi, where he also engaged in discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Three New Undersea Paths and a Gateway City Expansion
At the heart of this initiative, dubbed America-India Connect, are three new subsea cable paths designed to link India with Singapore, South Africa, and Australia. Additionally, four fiber-optic routes will establish connections between the US, India, and the Southern Hemisphere, significantly bolstering global internet infrastructure.
A particularly noteworthy aspect of this expansion is the focus on Visakhapatnam, commonly known as Vizag. Google is constructing direct fiber connections from Vizag to both South Africa and Singapore, transforming this east coast city into a prominent international subsea gateway. This development introduces much-needed geographic diversity to India's internet infrastructure, which has traditionally been concentrated around Mumbai and Chennai.
On the western front, a new cable linking Mumbai to Western Australia will complement existing Pacific routes, further strengthening India's connectivity with key global regions.
Enhanced Infrastructure to Bridge the AI Divide
Google emphasizes that reliable infrastructure serves as a practical solution to prevent an AI divide. The company argues that increased subsea capacity typically leads to more affordable and faster internet services, which in turn drive productivity and foster economic growth on a large scale.
In conjunction with the cable announcements, Google.org has committed $30 million to enhance public services through AI applications and an additional $30 million to support scientific research. Furthermore, Google DeepMind is launching a new partnership with the Indian government to deploy its advanced AI for Science models locally, aiming to accelerate innovation and technological advancement within the country.
India's Growing Role in Google's Global Strategy
This infrastructure push in India represents a key component of Google's broader global spending strategy. The company has indicated that its capital expenditures could reach as high as $185 billion this year alone, with recent investments also made in Belgium, the United Kingdom, and South Carolina.
For Google, India has evolved beyond merely a growth market. The tech giant now operates its largest global campus in Bangalore and is rapidly expanding its portfolio of local partnerships, underscoring the country's strategic importance in its global operations.
