Google to expand data centres in India, allegedly looking to acquire 22.5 acres of land in Navi Mumbai

Google is ramping up its investment in India’s digital infrastructure, with plans to expand its data centre 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 made it clear that it is also looking to build on its existing data centres in Mumbai and Delhi.

Google to investment 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 is continuing to invest 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 in the country can now store their data and conduct machine-learning processes for its Gemini 1.5 Flash AI model locally. This development provides organisations, 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 centre in Navi Mumbai?
In addition to expanding its existing facilities, Google is reportedly close to finalising the acquisition of a 22.5-acre land parcel in Navi Mumbai, where it intends to develop its first self-built data centre in India, as per a report by Data Centre Dynamics from earlier this year.

The site, located in Juinagar, is currently 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.

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The new data centre is expected to have significant capacity, potentially running into hundreds of megawatts, owing to the large size of the land. This facility will mark a major milestone for Google in India, as it will be the first data centre the company has developed from the ground up in the country. Google had previously leased data centre space in locations like Navi Mumbai and Noida. This includes a data centre lease deal with Adani in 2022.

India’s AI and cloud ecosystem
The decision to expand its data centres 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, and 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 be collaborating on Google’s energy requirements, helping advance the companies’ collective sustainability goals and add more clean energy to the Indian grid.

The tech giant’s cloud services are already being adopted by major Indian organisations across industries. 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 centre 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.