Google Cloud to invest USD 15 billion in India to set up first AI hub in Visakhapatnam

Published on Authored by C to I News Desk

Google Cloud has announced its biggest-ever investment in India, pledging around USD 15 billion over the next five years to set up its first Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The move marks a major step in the company’s long-term commitment to India’s rapidly growing digital economy and aligns with the Government of India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

Indian minister and Google officials at the announcement event.
Google officials with Indian cabinet minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (2nd left), Nirmala Sitharaman (3rd left) and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu (3rd right). Photo courtesy: Google

The new AI hub, described as a “multi-faceted investment” by Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian, will combine large-scale data center operations, new renewable energy sources, and an expanded fiber-optic network.

According to Kurian, “India is experiencing a digital transformation that is unparalleled in pace and scale. 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.”

The investment, which will be rolled out between 2026 and 2030, aims to accelerate AI-driven innovation across industries while strengthening U.S.–India technology cooperation. Kurian said the initiative “has the potential to accelerate AI-driven transformation across every sector,” adding that it will create “high-value jobs in India, while also stimulating economic activity back in the U.S. through related research and development”.

The Visakhapatnam AI hub will feature a purpose-built data center campus with gigawatt-scale compute capacity, designed to meet India’s increasing digital demands. Kurian explained that the facility will be “built to the same exacting standards that power global Google services like Search, YouTube, and Workspace”. He emphasized that “it is critical that businesses, developers, and researchers have access to the highest-performance, lowest-latency services”.

Google Cloud will partner with AdaniConnex and Airtel to deliver advanced infrastructure for Indian enterprises and startups, enabling them to build and scale AI-powered solutions. Kurian said this effort will help India “secure its place as a global leader in the AI-driven future.”

As part of the investment, Google will also build a major new international subsea gateway in Visakhapatnam. The project will bring multiple undersea cables to India’s eastern coast, complementing existing landings in Mumbai and Chennai.

This new connectivity pathway aims to strengthen the resilience of India’s digital backbone, provide route diversity, and improve the speed and reliability of online services. Kurian noted that this 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.”

In line with its sustainability goals, Google will work with partners to develop new transmission lines, clean energy generation, and storage systems in Andhra Pradesh to support the hub’s operations. Kurian stated, “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.”

Calling the project a “landmark investment in India’s digital future,” Kurian said Google aims to deliver “industry-leading AI infrastructure at this scale” to create opportunities for growth and drive a “transformative impact for society.”