US EditionGoogle planning powerful AI data centre on tiny Australian Indian Ocean outpost: Report
Google's AI data centre on Christmas Island supports a defence cloud deal and could enhance surveillance in the Indian Ocean, benefiting the island's economy and connectivity.
- Google is planning a large artificial intelligence data centre on Christmas Island after a cloud agreement with Australia's Department of Defence; the 135 square km island hosts 1,600 residents and has recently struggled with poor telecommunications.
- The Indian Ocean location offers commercial benefits between Africa, Asia and Australia and also carries potential defence uses, with war games describing Christmas Island as a forward command-and-control node for AI-enabled uncrewed systems and maritime monitoring.
- Google is in advanced talks to lease land near Christmas Island airport and has a deal with a local mining company for energy, while applying for environmental approval for a SubCom subsea cable to Darwin.
- Christmas Island Shire President Steve Pereira said officials are examining community impacts before construction approval, noting anti-war protesters fear tourism harm while business people hope defence activity boosts the economy.
- Amid rising regional tensions, allied moves show Britain's military recently announced a similar Google cloud deal and prior SubCom links suggest a strategic role for Australia’s Christmas Island.
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nuclear-newsGoogle on Christmas Island: Data Centres and Imminent Militarisation
Google has become something of a fixture in digital infrastructure in the Pacific. In late 2023, Canberra announced a joint project with the US, Google and Vocus, an Australian digital infrastructure firm, to deliver the A$80 million South Pacific Connect initiative. The object: to link Fiji and French Polynesia to Australia and North America, with the hopeful placement of landing stations in other South Pacific countries. Interest in Google’s r…
Google Plans AI Data Centre On Australia's Remote Indian Ocean Outpost
Google plans to build a large artificial intelligence data centre on Australia's remote Indian Ocean outpost of Christmas Island after signing a cloud deal with the Department of Defence earlier this year
Google plans a significant AI data centre on Christmas Island, enhancing regional defense and boosting local economic opportunities.
Exclusive: Google planning powerful AI data centre on tiny Australian Indian Ocean outpost
Google plans to build a large artificial intelligence data centre on Australia's remote Indian Ocean outpost of Christmas Island after signing a cloud deal with the Department of Defence earlier this year, according to documents reviewed by Reuters and interviews with officials.
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