Google has plans to build an AI data centre on Christmas Island, located in the Indian Ocean, after signing a cloud deal with Australia’s Department of Defence earlier this year. According to documentation and official interviews sourced by news agency Reuters.
Plans for the data centre on the tiny island located 350 km (220 miles) south of Indonesia have not previously been reported, and many details including its projected size, cost and potential uses, remain secret.
However, military experts say such a facility would be a valuable asset on the island, which is increasingly seen by defence officials as a critical frontline in monitoring Chinese submarine and other naval activity in the Indian Ocean.
Google is in advanced talks to lease land near the island’s airport to construct the data hub, including a deal with a local mining company to secure its energy needs, Christmas Island Shire officials told Reuters and council meeting records show.
Alphabet Inc-owned Google, opens new tab said the project was part of its work to deliver subsea cable infrastructure to boost digital resilience in Australia and the Indo-Pacific, and played down its size.
“We are not constructing ‘a large artificial intelligence data centre’ on Christmas Island,” a Google spokeswoman said in a statement to Reuters, adding more details would be shared soon.
Planning documents show Google proposes an “additional future cable system” connecting Christmas Island to Asia.
A Christmas Island source, who declined to be named, said Google had requested a long-term energy supply deal for a 7 megawatt data centre, using diesel and renewable power. Google did not comment about its power requirements.
Australia’s Department of Infrastructure confirmed Google’s proposal was to establish a data centre on Christmas Island and included plans to connect the island to Darwin via a subsea cable.
“The department is in discussions with Google to ensure energy requirements for the proposed project are met without impacting supply to local residents and businesses,” it said in a statement to Reuters.
Australia’s Department of Defence had no comment.
Source: Reuters
Image Credit: Google