In a landmark move that underscores India’s growing significance in the global digital infrastructure landscape, Google is looking to invest $6 billion to build a massive data center in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
If all things work out, this will be the tech giant’s first data center in India and its largest such project in Asia, marking a pivotal moment for both Google and the Indian state. The facility, designed to deliver 1 gigawatt of capacity, will be powered in part by $2 billion worth of renewable energy infrastructure, aligning with Alphabet’s broader sustainability goals.
The announcement comes amid Google’s ambitious plan to spend $75 billion globally on data center expansion in 2025, despite economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions. Andhra Pradesh, which lost its capital Hyderabad to Telangana in the 2014 bifurcation, has been aggressively pursuing high-value investments to offset revenue losses and boost its economy.
According to state IT minister Nara Lokesh, Andhra Pradesh has already secured commitments for 1.6 GW of data center capacity, with plans to scale up to 6 GW over the next five years. The Visakhapatnam project is expected to be a cornerstone of this strategy, not only enhancing the state’s technological footprint but also creating thousands of jobs and attracting further investment.
To support the data center’s operations, the state is also developing three new cable landing stations in Visakhapatnam, aiming to build a network twice the size of Mumbai’s current infrastructure. These stations will enable faster and more reliable global connectivity, positioning Visakhapatnam as a major hub in Asia’s digital ecosystem.
While the majority of the power will come from green sources, some coal-based energy will be used to ensure a consistent supply. Google’s investment signals a strong vote of confidence in India’s digital future and sets the stage for transformative growth in the region.
