Google is ramping up its investment in India’s digital infrastructure, with plans to expand its data center operations in the country.
Following a significant announcement about enabling businesses to run its Gemini 1.5 Flash AI model locally, the tech giant has clarified that it is also looking to build on its existing data centers in Mumbai and Delhi.
Google to invest more in cloud infrastructure.
In an interview with the Economic Times, Bikram Singh Bedi, Google Cloud India’s vice president and managing director, said that India is one of the fastest-growing regions for Google Cloud globally. The company continues investing heavily in its cloud capacity to meet increasing demand. Bedi noted that adoption in India has seen a rapid surge, and Google is keen to keep pace with this by expanding the infrastructure that supports its cloud services.
At the recent Google for India event, the company outlined how businesses can now store their data and conduct machine-learning processes for its Gemini 1.5 Flash AI model locally. This development provides organizations, including those in the public sector, with enhanced control and security, making India a central player in Google’s cloud and AI strategy.
Google has also collaborated with the EkStep Foundation to develop a ‘DPI in a box’ model, which will help export India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) architecture to other countries. This move could prove crucial as many nations, particularly across the global South, look to replicate India’s digital success story.
A new data center in Navi Mumbai?
In addition to expanding its existing facilities, Google is reportedly close to finalizing the acquisition of a 22.5-acre land parcel in Navi Mumbai, where it intends to develop its first self-built data center in India, according to a report by Data Center Dynamics earlier this year.
The site, located in Juinagar, is owned by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and leased to Gramercy Trade Industries. The proposed land deal is valued at approximately Rs 850 crore ($102 million), and sources suggest the transaction is in its final stages.
Owing to the large size of the land, the new data center is expected to have significant capacity, potentially running into hundreds of megawatts. This facility will mark an important milestone for Google in India, as it will be the first data center the company has developed from the ground up in the country. Google had previously leased data center space in locations like Navi Mumbai and Noida. This includes a data center lease deal with Adani in 2022.
India’s AI and cloud ecosystem
The decision to expand its data centers in India reflects Google’s commitment to bolstering its footprint in one of its most promising markets. India has become a crucial battleground for cloud providers. Google’s move to bring advanced AI capabilities, such as the Gemini 1.5 Flash model, closer to local businesses highlights the company’s focus on the region.
On Thursday, Google and Adani also announced that they will collaborate on Google’s energy requirements, helping advance the companies’ collective sustainability goals and adding more clean energy to the Indian grid.
Major Indian organizations across industries are already adopting the tech giant’s cloud services. Companies like HDFC Ergo, Federal Bank, the Mahindra Group, Apollo Hospitals, and IndiGo have started leveraging Google’s AI and cloud solutions.
Google’s efforts to support and expand its presence in the country’s AI and cloud landscape are setting the stage for further growth and innovation. The proposed Navi Mumbai data center is just one part of this broader strategy, as the company continues to position itself as a key player in India’s fast-evolving tech ecosystem.
