Computer servers in a data center.
getty
Adani Enterprises—controlled by port-to-power billionaire Gautam Adani—said it and Alphabet’s Google will invest $15 billion over the next five years to develop a gigawatt-scale data center hub in the southeastern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
AdaniConneX, a joint venture between the Adani Group and data center operator EdgeConneX, will undertake the project, which will be supported by a subsea cable network and renewable energy facilities, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The Adani Group is proud to partner with Google on this historic project that will define the future of India’s digital landscape,” Adani, chairman of the Adani Group said in the statement.
To support the new facility, the Adani Group will build new transmission lines, renewable energy generation, and energy storage systems in the state. The facility will help meet India’s growing demand for AI and will also collaborate with Bharti Airtel (controlled by telecom tycoon Sunil Mittal and his family). Google plans to develop the data center complex into an AI hub.
“To unlock India’s massive potential in the AI age, we are investing in the Google AI hub, which will provide the critical foundation to drive growth and enable businesses, researchers, and creators to build and scale with AI,” Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud said.
India is becoming one of the hottest data center markets in the region, with the country’s tycoons stepping up their investments in AI. In August, Reliance Jio—controlled by India’s richest person, Mukesh Ambani, with an estimated real-time net worth of $102 billion —signed deals with Meta and Google to develop AI platforms and announced plans for a gigawatt-scale data center in the western state of Gujarat.
With an estimated net worth of $68.9 billion based on Forbes’ real-time data, Adani is the second-wealthiest person in India. He is the chairman of the Ahmedabad-based Adani Group, which has interests in airports, cement manufacturing, edible oils, energy, logistics, media, mining, ports, power, and real estate.