Key Points
- Google is planning to build a large AI data center on Australia’s remote Christmas Island.
- The project follows a cloud computing deal Google signed with Australia’s Department of Defence.
- Military experts view the data center as a strategic asset for monitoring naval activity in the Indian Ocean.
- The data center will be connected to mainland Australia via a new subsea cable.
Google is planning to build a large artificial intelligence data center on Australia’s remote Christmas Island, located in the Indian Ocean. This move comes after the tech giant signed a cloud deal with Australia’s Department of Defence earlier this year.
The plans for the data center on the tiny island, 350 km south of Indonesia, have not been reported before, and many details, such as its size and cost, remain secret. However, military experts say such a facility would be a huge asset on an island that is increasingly seen as a critical front line for monitoring Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean.
According to Christmas Island Shire officials and council meeting records, Google is in advanced talks to lease land near the island’s airport for the data hub. It is also working on a deal with a local mining company to secure the energy it will need.
Military experts see Christmas Island as a vital forward line of defense for Australia in any regional conflict. Bryan Clark, a former U.S. Navy strategist, said that having a “command and control” center on the island would be critical in a crisis. He explained that a data center would be essential for AI-enabled military operations, especially those using unmanned systems for surveillance and targeting.
Subsea cables, which the data center would use, provide more reliable and higher-bandwidth communication than satellites, which could be jammed in a conflict.
Last month, Google applied for environmental approvals to build the first subsea cable connecting Christmas Island to the northern Australian city of Darwin, where U.S. Marines are based for half the year.
For the 1,600 residents of Christmas Island, the project could bring much-needed jobs and economic value. The island, best known for its asylum seeker detention center and a massive annual red crab migration, has struggled with poor telecommunications. The local government is currently reviewing the community impact before giving final approval.
